As part of SB Nation's coverage of the NBA draft deadline, Tom Ziller took a look at the Mavs' current wants and needs on Tuesday. And while Marc Cuban used to be the NBA's in-season transaction king, Ziller thinks Dallas will focus more on saving cap space for the summer of 2012:
But the point guard Dallas allegedly seeks is Deron Williams, who will be a free agent at season's close. The center that the Mavericks want is allegedly Dwight Howard, who will be a free agent at season's close. To get both, the Mavericks need to lose Lamar Odom and Shawn Marion and possibly use the amnesty clause on someone like Brendan Haywood. But ESPN's Marc Stein reports that the Mavericks will not trade Marion for cap space during the season; if the pieces come together in July, Dallas will work on freeing up the space then.
Even with the Mavericks recent struggles, it seems like Dallas will defend their title with the current roster in order to keep as much roster flexibility as possible headed into next season.
For more news and analysis of the Mavericks up-and-down 2011-2012 season, check out Mavs Moneyball.