NBA: Mavericks Set To Make Noise In The NBA

By Brandon Engebretson

Sports Central Columnist

When people want to look for a team with no hope in the decade of the 1990's, besides the Clippers, they have to look no further than the Dallas Mavericks. This year, the Mavericks and their owner, Mark Cuban, look to shake that label.
Usually right after the season ends, you can write off the Mavericks for the next season. Coming into this season, though, the Mavericks actually look decent.

Dirk Notwitzki and Michael Finely are back from last year. Gary Trent is back from a year-long groin injury and is project to possibly be a 15-10 man in a forward spot. Steve Nash can play the point, but even he still has his doubters. Shawn Bradley is a big man's big man. But, does he have the talents to back that size up? Can he stay injury-free?

Cuban has also been active on the trade and draft from this year, too. He acquired Christian Lattener from Detroit, who can be a solid veteran for this team, and Howard Eisley from the Jazz. In the draft, they got high-ceiling player Courtney Alexander from the Magic for another first round draft pick next year. Alexander has the potential to play a role for this team right away, as does draft pick Etan Thomas.

Cuban has also used his money to make things not happen. He wanted Lattener so bad, that he threw in $3 million in money just so that his trade for Lattener would go through instead of the monster Patrick Ewing/Vin Baker deal involving Lattener.

Cuban has stubbornly disregarded the luxury tax all year. As he sees it, it's just another obstacle for his money to overcome so he can build a winning franchise for the first time in ten years. The NBA would like another franchise to compete in the strong West division and the Mavs could be it.

Article courtesy of Sports Central