Dwight Howard and Chris Paul have Dirk Nowitzki’s approval.
Which should come as no surprise. After missing the playoffs, the Dallas Mavericks are going to be doing some serious name chasing this summer, and what better names to chase than the two best free agents available?
Speaking on Dallas’ offseason plans, Nowitzki endorsed the Mavericks pursuing either Paul or Howard or both (via The Dallas Morning News):
We’d love to get one of those two. We’d love to get a player in here who can create his own shot and be a superstar-type player. It’s still a long way to go until July. Those guys need to clear their minds a little bit and get away and then start thinking what they want to do with their futures. Hopefully, that’s where we come in and put a great pitch out there and see what happens.
Dallas’ winning ways are likely to entice a vast array of prospective free agents. Though the Mavericks missed the postseason this year, they saw the light of the playoffs in each of the 12 previous seasons. They can sell star players on a winning culture and an owner in Mark Cuban who will spend whatever it takes to preserve that culture.
But do they have a shot at Paul or Howard? I’m inclined to say no.
For one, it’s difficult to envision either player leaving their current situation (thought I fancy Paul the bigger flight risk). They’re both playing in a premier market and for teams (yes, Donald Sterling’s Los Angeles Clippers included) that are willing to spend on talent. Why would Paul leave the Clippers when he has absolute control? Why would Howard leave the Los Angeles Lakers when they’re prepared to give him that same control once Kobe Bryant retires?
Should a team not-named the Atlanta Hawks come along and give these two players an opportunity to play alongside each other, then perhaps they become bigger flight risks. The Mavericks aren’t one of those teams. They have close to $50 million on their books leading into next season and have to create some additional room just to sign one. Creating enough space to sign both borders on impossible.
And so, Howard and Paul more likely to remain where they are. And even if they weren’t, the Mavericks would still be a tough sell.
Yes, they can point to their 2011 NBA championship, penchant for winning and Nowitzki, but the latter could be part of the problem. Dirk isn’t as young or spry as he once was, and should Paul or Howard opt to join forces with him, they’ll do so with the knowledge that they could be essentially on their own in one-year’s time. Is that what either of them are looking for? Of course not.
As disappointing as the Lakers were this season and as unsightly as the Clippers were during the postseason, they still have either multiple superstars or a star sidekick in his prime to sell them on. Dallas has neither. It has just Dirk.
A few years ago, that would have been enough. But now, it just isn’t.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
