The Sporty Blogger

Here is the Mavs Payroll roster as of right now:

Jason Kidd-1 year left on contrat at $21,372,000

Dirk Nowitzki-3 years left on contact at $59,387,142-player option in 10/11

Josh Howard-3 years left on contract at $32,670,000-Team option in 10/11

Erick Dampier-3 Years left on contract at $32737500

Jason Terry-4 Years left on contract at $41,025,000

Jerry Stackhouse-2 years left at $14,250,000

Desagana Diop-5 Years left at $32,393,000

JJ Barea-3 Years left at $4,972,500-Team option in 10/11

Antoine Wright-2 Years left at 4,020,550

Shawne Williams-3 Years left at $7,400,511

DJ Mbenga-1 Year left at $1,971,041-Plays with Lakers

Deveon George-1 year at $1,600,000

Brandon Bass-1 Year at $826,269

Gerald Green-1 Year at $862,269

James Singleton-1 Year at $797,581

Nick Fazekas-1 Year-$711,517-Plays with Denver

The total salary for this year 2008/09 is $92,320,541. They have 9 players under contract for next year totalling $70,126,360. (Dirk, Josh, Terry, Damp, Stack, Diop, Wright, Williams, JJ Barea) Let us take a look at who might be someone to build around in the future. Dirk is getting older and only has 2 or 3 years left at the elite level. Josh is nice but is inconsistant and is a 4th quarter no show. Terry is a real nice role player and on a good team can be the third scorer and if need be can carry a team for a night. Diop isn't going anywhere because of his contract. It runs out in 2012/13. Stackhouse wants out, 2 guys we are paying already play on other teams. Devean George is out next year. Jason Kidd is a free agent at the end of this year and if he is to leave I beleive basketball doesn't allow compensation for losing free agents. Even with the with some contracts expiring and dropping the payroll to 70 million we would need to fill the roster with more players. Being conservative lets say next year our payroll is 82 million. Dirk is older, Josh is crazier, Terry is still only a good 6th man. We do have a draft pick this year in the first round but by the looks of it the mavs still might make the playoffs leaving that pick as a mid to lat 1st rounder which is a crap shoot. Also at the end of next year we have a team option on Josh and Dirk has a player option. I would look for him to leave if we are nowhere near competing. In 2010 with those options and having no 1st round draft pick life is bleak for any Mavs fan.

It is bleak but still there is a little hope. With Mark Cuban we know he will pay to win. There is a chance of signing a big FA next summer but so far we have seen that no one is willing to come to Dallas. So this entails Cuban overpaying for for B level talent. That is no way to win. Next, after 2009/2010 season is over with, another 20 mil drops off leaving the payroll at 51 million. This is the Lebron James FA period. I am not suggesting we can get him but there will be one free agent out there that we can atleast get in the door and listen. This is the only chance to help the team and not blow it up. He resides in Toronto right now and is a Dallas product. Chris Bosh is the only chance mavs fans have to turn this thing around before Dirk and Josh leave. It has been my experience that guys want to play for the teams they grew up watching, the Mavs are that for Bosh. If the Mavs can get Bosh then the FA pool the next year is better since people would consider coming to a place that Bosh and Dirk play at. If this doesn't happen then we need to blow it up starting now. Kidd needs to be moved at the deadline for bad contracts and draft picks. They need to replenish the pile from letting NJ have 2 picks and Devin Harris for Kidd. Then in the summer Josh has to be traded for either young talent or draft picks. We then have one more year with Dirk and if by the trade deadline we aren't winning then Dirk needs to go too. The Sonics/ Thunder did it with Ray Allen and so did the Timberwolves/ Wolves with KG. They are struggling now but in 5 years they will be on top. These are the options we have and none sound appealing.