All eyes on Shawn Marion

With Dirk Nowitzki out for the time being, Dallas will need their new elder statesman to take on a bigger role on offense. Is he up to it?

Mavericks hope Dirk Nowitzki can return in 3 weeks

The Dallas Mavericks hope that Dirk Nowitzki can return from his injury in three weeks.

Dirk Nowitzki injury: Dallas forward undergoes knee surgery, will miss 6 weeks

Following surgery on Friday morning, Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki will miss six weeks.

Dirk Nowitzki will 'be just fine,' Mark Cuban says

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban believes the team will be all right with whatever happens with Dirk Nowitzki's swollen right knee.

Dirk Nowitzki knee injury: How long can Dallas survive without him?

The Mavericks superstar is as indispensable to the team as he's ever been and even an absence of a few weeks at the start of the season could prove disastrous.

Dirk Nowitzki injury: Mavericks star will hold off decision on surgery

Dirk Nowitzki's knee has reportedly begun to swell again. The Mavericks' forward has been dealing with a knee injury throughout the preseason, requiring his knee to be drained twice in the past month. It has kept him out of preseason games, including their latest one.

RT @mfollowill Dirk telling us his right knee swelled again. Gonna give it a few of days to respond before making a decision about a surgery

— Mavs Moneyball (@mavsmoneyball) October 16, 2012

Nowitzki was forced to sit out on Monday night as the Mavs took on the Houston Rockets, and missed out on their preseason game against FC Barcelona Regal in Spain prior to that. Despite the missed games and needing another drainage in his knee, he had practiced every day over the weekend.

Ideally, Nowitzki will be back in decent enough health to play by Oct. 30, when the Mavericks open their season against the Los Angeles Lakers. Surgery on the knee has been on the table for a while now, but Nowitzki has not indicated a decision.

Dirk Nowitzki injury update: Mavericks' star practices on Friday

Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki had a full practice on Thursday. He is currently dealing with a sore right knee.

Dirk Nowitzki injury: Mavericks star may need knee surgery

Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki might need arthroscopic knee surgery before the 2012-13 season begins.

What happens if Dirk Nowitzki needs surgery?

Dirk Nowitzki is nursing a knee injury for the second-straight training camp, and Dallas Mavericks fans seem to be a little uneasy.

Right now, Nowitzki is planning to play through the pain, but he isn't ruling surgery out. But SB Nation's Mavs Moneyball outlines what would happen if the big man opted for surgery. Assuming arthroscopic knee surgery would take Nowitzki five weeks of recovery, the author says "nine games in an 82-game season isn't much."

Why nine games? Because Nowitzki could opt for surgery now and come back nine games into the season. Mavs Moneyball asks the question if surgery now is worth it:

Would you take a healthy, problem free Dirk and a 4-5 record, with 72 games to play in the season [if he has surgery] over a ticking time bomb and a 6-3 or 7-2 record [if he doesn't]? You would, and I would. But they haven't made that decision.

As the author points out, Nowitzki treated the same injury last season without surgery. But if a chronic problem can be fixed, it's an interesting question.

Darren Collison and the Dallas PG's

Shaky play in the first two pre-season games hasn't rested any fears about the Mavericks ability to replace Jason Kidd and Jason Terry in 2013.

Dirk Nowitzki injury: Mavericks forward suffering knee pain again

For the second straight training camp, Dirk Nowitzki is playing with a knee injury.

Mavericks vs. FC Barcelona recap: Dirk Nowitzki sits, Dallas loses exhibition 99-85

The Dallas Mavericks shot just 56 percent from the free throw line, dropping an exhibition game 99-85 to FC Barcelona Regal Tuesday in Palau Sant Jordi, Spain.

It's the second of two European exhibitions the Mavericks took on this preseason, having beaten Alba Berlin in Germany Oct. 6.

The Mavericks played without forward Dirk Nowitzski, who was resting an injured knee, and was replaced by Elton Brand in the starting lineup. Nowitzski had 11 points on 3-for-9 shooting in the game in his native country, but his knee swelled up during practice Monday, causing him to sit out Tuesday's game.

Center Chris Kaman paced the Mavericks against FC Barcelona, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the loss. Darren Collison chipped in 14 points and four assists.

Forward Pete Mickeal had 19 points for FC Barcelona.

The Mavericks return to the U.S. Oct. 9, and begin their stateside preseason schedule with a home game against the Rockets Oct. 16.

NBA title odds 2013: Bovada giving Mavs 33/1 shot

The 2011 NBA Finals, and the only NBA championship in Mavericks history, seems longer away than ever before as the 2013 season is set to begin.

Dallas broke up their championship team in an effort to have salary cap space last summer, but they were unable to find a second star to play with Dirk Nowitzki.

As a result, eight teams are getting better NBA championship odds than the Mavericks at 33/1 and four – the Lakers, Spurs, Thunder and Clippers – are getting better odds to win the West than Dallas at 16/1.

The Heat, coming off their 2012 championship, are the favorites at 11/5, but the Lakers (5/2) and the Thunder (9/2) are right behind them in an NBA as top-heavy as the league has been in over a generation.

If you're looking at long shots, two of the Mavericks competitors in the West – the Grizzlies (33/1) and the Nuggets (66/1) – seem a bit undervalued, but this doesn't look like a season for long-shots.

Darren Collison could benefit from playing with Dirk

New Dallas Mavericks point guard Darren Collison is, not surprisingly, a big fan of playing with Dirk Nowitzki.

Collison had nine assists and 14 points in the Mavericks' 89-84 exhibition win over German League team Alba Berlin on Saturday, and credited playing with Nowitzki for being so open to the Dallas Morning News:

"I know one thing," Collison said, "coming off that screen from Dirk, I haven't ever been that open in my entire life."

The Mavs had a whopping 27 turnovers against the German League team. Still, Nowitzki said the team is optimistic with guys like Collison on board:

"We got a lot of shooters now," Nowitzki said. "We've got some playmakers that can run off those screens, so once we iron out the problems, we should be able to score."

The Mavericks don't open their NBA preseason schedule until Oct. 15, when they host the Houston Rockets. The regular season for Dallas tips off Oct. 30 when the Mavs play at the Los Angeles Lakers.

Rodrigue Beaubois injured in Saturday exhibition game

Backup point guard Rodrigue Beaubois hurt his ankle in the Dallas Mavericks' victory against Alba Berlin on Saturday.

Mavericks defeat Alba Berlin in exhibition game

The Dallas Mavericks began their preseason in Germany with a win, defeating Alba Berlin 89-84.

Dallas trailed by two points after the first quarter, but outscored Alba Berlin 24-16 in the second to carry a lead into the half. Alba Berlin cut the Mavericks’ lead to four entering the fourth quarter, but Dallas was able to hold on for the victory in the preseason opener.

Center Chris Kaman led the way for the Mavericks, scoring 14 points on 7-9 shooting from the field with six rebounds and two blocks. Dallas guards Darren Collison and Vince Carter also each scored 14 points for the Mavericks, and forward Shawn Marion contributed 11 rebounds and three steals. Forward Dirk Nowitzki and guard O.J. Mayo each scored eight points.

Former North Carolina Tarheels forward Deon Thompson was the high scorer for Alba Berlin, finishing with 20 points on 10-19 shooting with five rebounds and four steals.

Mavericks training camp: Dirk Nowitzki honored with award in Europe

Dirk Nowitzki is being awarded the AmCham Germany TransAtlantic Partnership Award.

Mavericks training camp: Europe trip worth the wait for Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk Nowitzki gets to play his first ever game in Europe as part of a NBA team.

Dallas Mavericks begin week in Europe

Dirk Nowitzki and the rest of the Dallas Mavericks are making a trek through Europe this week. The tour is partially a trip to help the Mavericks bond, but it is also something of a tribute tour for the most decorated European player in NBA history.

Dallas will begin the trip in Nowitzki's home country of Germany, where the Mavericks will play an exhibition game against Alba Berlin. In addition to the 100 tickets that Nowitzki will be giving to family members and friends, the game is sold out.

The Mavs will be heading to Spain on Sunday to take on FC Barcelona Regal and watch the El Clasico match between Barcelona's soccer club and Real Madrid.

For Nowitzki, the short European tour will be packed with scheduled appearances before the German media and others. Regarding his responsibilities during the trip, Nowitzki said, "Now that I've seen my schedule, I wonder what am I wishing for?"

Dirk on flopping fines: 'Bunch of crap'

The Mavericks star doesn't think the league's new policy towards penalizing floppers is a good idea.

Three big questions about the Mavericks season

A look at three things to watch as Dallas begins training camp for the 2012-2013 season.

Dirk Nowitzki excited after busy summer

Dirk Nowitzki in better condition entering the Dallas Mavericks' training camp this season

Dominique Jones hoping for breakout year in 2012

After two years with the Mavericks where he essentially warmed the bench, Dominique Jones enters his third year knowing that his job, and his spot in the NBA, is on the line.

Jones, the No. 25 overall pick out of South Florida in 2010, has never been able to carve out a spot for himself in the Dallas rotation.

Part of the problem came from playing behind so many entrenched veterans in the Mavericks back-court, but it isn't like Jones was wildly productive in his time on the floor either.

At 6'5 215, he's an average sized shooting guard, but he lacks the top-flight athleticism to be a plus scorer or defender. He's a fairly decent distributor, and in many ways he is an over sized combo guard, but his lack of a perimeter jumper means that defenders can play off him and negate his slashing ability.

This unappetizing combination of skills explains his poor statistical production in his first two seasons, with career averages of 2.5 points, 1.4 assist and 1.1 rebounds on 36% shooting.

With Jason Kidd and Jason Terry gone, there are minutes available in the Dallas rotation, but if Jones can't grab them this year, he will likely be plying his trade overseas in 2013.

He's coming off a dominant campaign in the Las Vegas Summer League, where he averaged 16.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5 assists on 46% shooting, but the most encouraging sign is his steadily improving jumper, according to a quote from Mavericks assistant coach Monte Mathis (courtesy of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram):

"Even prior to summer league he really put in a lot of time on his jump shot, and he's actually shooting the ball really well right now," said Mathis, who coached the summer league squad. "We know he can get to the rim, but he's knocking down 3's now. And if he can do that, if you can get the defense just respecting you a little bit on your shots, now he can go to his strengths, which is getting in the paint."

Jones is 1-12 from three-point range in his short NBA career, a testament to his shaky jumper as well as sporadic minutes in Dallas. That number will be worth watching in the pre-season, as Jones fights for a chance to keep his NBA dreams alive.

Mavericks release Tu Holloway and D.J. Mbenga

As the Dallas Mavericks take off for Europe, they have departed with guard Tu Holloway and center D.J. Mbenga.

Elton Brand vows to be Mavs enforcer

Elton Brand may be the answer for a Dallas Mavericks team looking for an enforcer to protect the paint. The team struggled at times to protect the rim last season after losing center Tyson Chandler, and Brand discussed his role on the defensive side of the ball as the Mavs' training camp got underway (via Tim McMahon of ESPNDallas)

"I'm definitely going to have to anchor the defense, bring toughness," the 6-foot-9, 254-pound Brand said. "I'm not proud of it, but I think I led the league in flagrant fouls last year. You've got to bring that. In order to win, you've got to do those kind of things, protect that paint."

Brand was a name offseason acquisition for Mark Cuban, and his power forward build certainly enables him to play the role of enforcer.

The veteran has dealt with knee injuries throughout his career, but he started 60 games for the Sixers last season, playing just under 30 minutes per game. He averages nearly two blocks per game for his career, and a front line led by Dirk Nowitzki will certainly look for his help on the defensive end of the floor.

NBA Training Camp 2012: New-look Mavericks eager to hit the ground running

Set to debut a handful of new faces this fall, the Mavericks are hoping to put a frustrating 2011-12 campaign behind them.