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2012-13 NBA Preview: Dallas Mavericks
- Updated: October 21, 2012
6. Dallas Mavericks
HOW THEY CAN WIN: The Mavs have loaded up on new talent after wading through a relatively embarrassing title defense. It was clear that the 2011 championship run took a lot out of the Mavericks, and just as clear that Dallas celebrated their accomplishment with particular zeal. The hangover was visible. This year should be different. Dallas has added speedy point guard Darren Collison, big men Elton Brand and Chris Kaman (13.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg), and prized free agent O.J. Mayo (12.6 ppg). Mayo should help lighten the scoring load, and may be on the verge of a breakout season now that he has broken free from Memphis.
WHY THEY WON’T: Dirk Nowitzki will miss the first six weeks of the season after having knee surgery, and who knows if he will be anything near 100 percent when he does come back. If Dirk can’t play like Dirk, the Mavs have zero shot at contending for the title. Beyond that, this team is old, with a lot of mileage on it.
FINAL DESTINATION: If Dirk can play at full strength and the elderly newcomers like Brand and Kaman can provide some punch, the Mavs are a dark-horse title contender. If not, this team won’t get past Round 1.
OUR CALL: 48-34.
| TEAM ROSTER | |||||||
| NO. | NAME | POS | AGE | HT | WT | COLLEGE | 2012-2013 SALARY |
| 3 | Rodrigue Beaubois | PG | 24 | 6-2 | 185 | $2,227,333 | |
| 42 | Elton Brand | PF | 33 | 6-9 | 254 | Duke | $2,100,500 |
| 25 | Vince Carter | SG | 35 | 6-6 | 220 | North Carolina | $3,090,000 |
| 4 | Darren Collison | PG | 25 | 6-0 | 175 | UCLA | $2,319,344 |
| 9 | Jae Crowder | SF | 22 | 6-6 | 235 | Marquette | $600,491 |
| 1 | Jared Cunningham | SG | 21 | 6-4 | 195 | Oregon State | $1,156,320 |
| 5 | Bernard James | C | 27 | 6-10 | 240 | Florida State | $473,604 |
| 30 | Dahntay Jones | SG | 31 | 6-6 | 225 | Duke | $2,900,000 |
| 20 | Dominique Jones | SG | 24 | 6-5 | 215 | South Florida | $1,276,560 |
| 35 | Chris Kaman | C | 30 | 7-0 | 265 | Central Michigan | $8,000,000 |
| 0 | Shawn Marion | SF | 34 | 6-7 | 228 | UNLV | $8,692,881 |
| 32 | O.J. Mayo | SG | 24 | 6-4 | 210 | USC | $4,020,000 |
| 41 | Dirk Nowitzki | PF | 34 | 7-0 | 245 | $20,907,128 | |
| 13 | Delonte West | SG | 29 | 6-3 | 180 | Saint Joseph’s | $854,389 |
| 34 | Brandan Wright | PF | 25 | 6-10 | 210 | North Carolina | $992,680 |
| Coach: Rick Carlisle |
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