This ran a few days ago in print. With the Suns coming to town tonight, we figured we'd run it again in case you missed it.
In the summer of 2004, the Mavericks had some contemplating to do. They had just finished being demolished by Sacramento in the first round of the playoffs, and Mark Cuban was eager to tinker with a team that looked as if it could use some tinkering. The Mavs ended up cleaning house, letting Steve Nash sign with Phoenix, trading Antawn Jamison for Jerry Stackhouse and the rights to Devin Harris, trading Antoine Walker for Jason Terry, and acquiring Erick Dampier by way of a sign-and-trade deal. Let’s go back in time for a bit of speculation.
2004-05 Mavs
Draft day: The Mavs trade Antawn Jamison to Washington for Jerry Stackhouse, Christian Laettner and the rights to the fifth overall pick. Steve Nash’s contract is up, and he’s an unrestricted free agent. The Mavs have a choice to make. Do they draft a point guard just in case a team offers Nash a large contract, or do they draft from an overall talent standpoint and deal with re-signing Nash in the next few weeks? In a move of solidarity toward Dirk Nowitzki and Nash, the Mavs take Luol Deng with the fifth overall pick.
One week later: The Mavs let Nash know how much he’s wanted in Dallas. The Suns offer a six-year, $65 million deal to Nash, but the Mavericks stick to their guns and Nash re-ups for slightly more.
One month later: The Mavs shop Antoine Walker everywhere before settling on a swap with the Hawks for guard Jason Terry.
Results: The 2004-05 season finds the Mavs developing Deng and second-year player Josh Howard, while still doing quite well for themselves. The team still needs a legitimate center and is forced to play small ball, often rotating Nowitzki at center. The Mavs make the playoffs as the fourth seed and defeat Houston in the first round. The Spurs advance past the eighth-seeded Suns and beat the Mavs in six games in the semifinals en route to another title. Steve Nash finishes sixth in the MVP voting.
Starters
| PG | Steve Nash |
| SG | Michael Finley |
| SF | Josh Howard |
| PF | Dirk Nowitzki |
| C | Shawn Bradley |
Bench
| G | Jason Terry |
| G | Marquis Daniels |
| F | Luol Deng |
| F | Jerry Stackhouse |
| C | D.J. Mbenga |
2005-06 Mavs
Speculation: The Mavs sign centers DeSagana Diop and Zaza Pachulia in free agency.
Results: Pachulia gets most of the starts, but Diop shows a lot of promise and is much improved from his time in Cleveland. Deng is also much improved and starts most games. The Mavs still fail to get by the Spurs. The Heat win the title behind Dwyane Wade’s 80 free throws.
Starters
| PG | Steve Nash |
| SG | Josh Howard |
| SF | Luol Deng |
| PF | Dirk Nowitzki |
| C | Zaza Pachulia |
Bench
| G | Jason Terry |
| G | Marquis Daniels |
| F | Jerry Stackhouse |
| F | Keith Van Horn |
| C | DeSagana Diop |
2006-07 Mavs
Speculation: Unsatisfied with their center situation, the Mavs trade Jerry Stackhouse and their first-round pick to the Bulls for Tyson Chandler.
Results: The Mavs win 66 games to go to the playoffs as the top seed. They steamroll the Don Nelson-led Warriors and beat the Spurs in five games in the conference finals. They manhandle Cleveland in the Finals for their first title. Nowitzki is fourth and Nash fifth in MVP voting.
Starters
| PG | Steve Nash |
| SG | Josh Howard |
| SF | Luol Deng |
| PF | Dirk Nowitzki |
| C | Tyson Chandler |
Bench
| G | Jason Terry |
| G | Devean George |
| F | Austin Croshere |
| F | Greg Buckner |
| C | DeSagana Diop |
| C | Zaza Pachulia |
-Scooter Hendon
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