Dallas doesn't belong in the same sentence as those two clubs. Over the past two years, the Spurs and Cavaliers had a real chance to win a championship. The only people who believed Dallas had a chance in the last five were its fans and its management.... and I'm not so sure about its management.
I thought Cuban was trying to win championships rather than just making money. He tried to get cute after the team won it all and it blew up on him. There's no guarantee they would have even made the playoffs the next year, but I think he, just like Jerry, underestimates the value of continuity... especially after a very successful season.
I completely agree on Parsons, along with Howard and Deron Williams for that matter. I don't think these guys bring you championships as primary forces. They're complementary pieces; but they think of themselves as more than they really are.
Regarding shooting for 10's, Cuban looks like the guy who asks the hottest girl in school to the prom every year and gets turned down. Meanwhile, all the other pretty ones get dates.
Mark eventually shows up at the dance with a fat chick.
Actually it did according to your free agency post at the time... Now those two sit well behind Dallas in free agency this cycle.
Mark keeps making money and making the playoffs. He's better off then 75% of the league.
And quietly as it is kept he's adjusted his philosophy quite a bit.
The targets he's been after have been mostly good financial deals or for younger guys.
Of course he's going to swing for the fences but getting in players like Monte Ellis and Deron Williams is a hell of a lot better than team forever tank.
Dallas can add a former lottery pick (and do) every year. Much better business model than taking 3-5% chances on landing one so good you can win before they even hit free agency.
San Antonio is actually the team who should be weeping.
They finally spent big in free agency but are falling further and further behind the best teams in the league and the onyl good young player they have is going to forever make 10s of millions.
Hardly following Timmy to the self-sacrifice line.
Did I want Dallas to get Conley? Sure,. He represented the right kind of target at 28 years old and effective at a position of great value.
But 30m a year x 5 for a guy who's not elite? Heck no.
Is Memphis now elite? NO!!
But they sure are paying like they are.
Dallas won over half their games and likely returns all key roster personel minus Parsons who was injured much of the year anyway.
If they add Harrison Barnes they add a 24 year old with tremendous upside that everyone in basketball wanted before he was awful in the finals.
And they'd have him locked down into his prime.
Basically anyone bashing Mark is either basketball ignorant or not paying attention. Unfortunately that holds for a large number of Mavs fans.
Apparently they all joined the fanbase after the 90s run of suckitude or they damn sure wouldn't be calling for tank jobs.
Would I rather be mentioned and get meetings with top free agents and miss out then not even get said meetings? Of course.
Life is zero fun as a have not. It's even worse than being mediocre.
Dallas was a pretty fun watch with Monte Ellis and outside one season of tragic ball they've been pretty damn good for 15 years.
