Full-Court Press

Avery, Donnie & Cuban begin planning

Mark Cuban, president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson and coach Avery Johnson began meeting this week to prepare for next season. Nelson described the meetings as "debriefings" and "putting together ideas and concepts."

Nelson will soon begin heavy preparations for the NBA Draft, which is June 28. The Mavs do not have a first-round pick, but have Nos. 34, 50 and 60 in the second round of what is considered an unusually deep talent pool.

Another matter is the expiring contract of No. 1 assistant coach Del Harris, a holdover from Don Nelson's staff. If Harris, who turns 70 next month, does not return, he could be headed to Milwaukee as an assistant.

Harris' son, Larry, is the Bucks' general manager and coach Larry Krystkowiak, 42, could use a veteran hand after taking over in March.

Mavs stand behind MVP Dirk

Too many "firsts" will make Dirk Nowitzki's first MVP award seem second fiddle, at least in the short term.

The 7-foot forward is set to become the first European player to win the NBA's MVP -- and the first player in Mavericks history to claim the honor. The award presentation is expected to be made Tuesday.

But there are other firsts that makes accepting the award bittersweet: When the Mavericks fell to Golden State in the first round of the playoffs this season, they became the first No. 1 seed ousted by a No. 8 in a best-of-seven format. Nowitzki is the first MVP since Houston's Moses Malone in 1982 not to win a playoff series.

Donnie Nelson, the Mavs' general manager, tried to put it in perspective -- from Nowitzki's arrival in a foreign land as the 20-year-old future face of a franchise just beginning to reverse its wayward course -- and shift away from the micro-analysis of the six-game playoff bust.

"You look at the way he came into the league, nobody knew what Nowitzki was. Half the population thought he was going to report to the Dallas Stars," Nelson said. "Go through his first two years, he went through the bumps and bruises, really extremely difficult and trying years.

"And then to work his way out of that, become an All-Star, it was a dream. And then to be voted the MVP, I think it's more than anyone could ever wish for."

Another one who got away

Everybody loves to focus on the departure of Steve Nash during the 2004 off-season when mocking the Mavs, and ... well ... rightfully so.

But roughly one year earlier -- Sept. 26, 2003, to be exact -- the Mavs let a player go who would turn out to be a big-time baller and the exact kind of player they've sorely needed the past three years. After one of the greatest seasons in franchise history, which ended with a six-game loss to the Spurs in the West finals, the Mavs allowed free agent Raja Bell to sign a two-year deal with Utah.

It's hard to blame the Mavs. After all, Bell averaged just 3.1 points and 15.6 minutes per game, and he simply wasn't a priority as the team was too preoccupied trying to pull off blockbuster deals to acquire Antawn Jamison and Antoine Walker.

But to look at Bell now, to see what he has become, has to hurt the Mavs. He's tough, fearless, an excellent 3-point shooter, a terrific defender and the kind of player anybody would love to go to battle with.

He showed flashes of all that during the Mavs' playoff run that season. If only they had paid better attention. After Adrian Griffin last season and now Greg Buckner, the Mavs are nowhere near filling that relentless, tough-guy, no-nonsense void.

Want to feel even worse, Mavs fans? What if the team had kept Nash and Bell?
Hmmm, let's not even go there.

-- Garza, Mavs Lite

Gana Diop locked up for next season

The Mavericks exercised the team option on center DeSagana Diop today, locking him up for next season for $2.15 million.

It will be a big year for the 7-footer and former eighth overall pick by Cleveland in 2001 since he can become a free agent after next season. Gana has vowed to improve his offensive game this summer to help the Mavs establish the low-post scoring threat they sorely lacked in the first-round loss to Golden State.

"This game is all about confidence," Gana said. "I've got to work on my offense and get stronger."

Diop completed his second season with the Mavs averaging 2.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 18.3 minutes. He lost his starting job early in the season to Erick Dampier, but started the final four games against the up-tempo Warriors.

-- Jeff

Where does Dirk rank?

Wow, there are some heated comments being thrown around regarding Dirk's abilities and his place among the game's best. So let's hear your rankings of the 10 best players in the NBA.

The candidates:

Steve Nash
Tim Duncan
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Dirk Nowitzki
Dwyane Wade
Amare Stoudemire
Kevin Garnett
Gilbert Arenas
Chris Bosh
Tracy McGady
Yao Ming

Have at it.

Dirk MVP

On the day Dirk earned his third consecutive selection to the All-NBA first team, it looks like he'll get his first MVP, too.

Looks like Dirk will be presented the award on Tuesday. It will be interesting to see just how he handles it after the unimaginable playoff disaster. He'll be gracious as always, just hard to see it as a happy moment still so close to the sudden end of the season.

-- Jeff

Dirk a first-teamer; Nash unanimous

The NBA announced its All-NBA teams today...Dirk, for the third straight season is on the first team. And it's his seventh straight season as an All-NBA team member (there's a first, second and third team)...

The interesting thing is Steve Nash was a unanimous choice for the first team, getting 129 of a possible 129 first-place votes. He also led with the highest point total. Dirk got 125 first-place votes and Kobe Bryant got 128.

Some are wondering if Nash's point total means he's the likely MVP, too, when most signs have pointed to Dirk winning the thing whenever the NBA finally decides to announce the award (most thought it would be this week, but it will be at least next week now).

Anyway, the point total doesn't mean a whole lot because the All-NBA teams are voted on by position. So don't read too much into that.

Some other interesting tid-bits are that the five first-teamers: Dirk, Nash, Kobe, Amare Stoudemire and Tim Duncan are all Western Conference guys.

Stoudemire and Nash are the first teammates on the first team since 2003 when Kobe and Shaq did it. Speaking of Shaq, this is his first All-NBA team omission since his rookie season in 1993.

-- Jeff

Vincent very popular

Mavs assistant Sam Vincent is a very popular fellow at the moment.

Not only have Charlotte and Seattle contacted Vincent about their head coaching gigs, but now add Orlando to that mix. This is pretty interesting considering Vincent just finished his first season with the Mavs, which was his first on an NBA bench.

Now, the former NBA point guard has extensive head coaching experience overseas and with the Ft. Worth Flyers of the D-League, but to get this much attention to become an NBA boss is interesting.

Of course, Avery didn't exactly have a world of experience either when he took over the Mavs, although he seemed to be prepping for his head coaching career from the day he played his first game.

If Vincent leaves, you could have a pretty good overhaul of the Mavs' staff. No. 1 assistant Del Harris might be on his way out. A holdover from the Don Nelson days, Harris' contract is expiring and there's a feeling that he might not be back.

Harris, who turns 70 next month, could be on his way to Milwaukee as an assistant. It just makes sense since his son, Larry, is the GM and head coach Larry Krystkowiak, 42, promoted to head coach on March 14 after the Bucks fired Terry Stotts, could use a veteran hand.

Should be interesting.

-- Jeff

Sonics contact Vincent

Mavericks assistant Sam Vincent has been contacted by the Seattle SuperSonics about their head coaching vacancy. He is the first known candidate to surface since the team fired Bob Hill on April 24.

Vincent is also one of eight candidates to have interviewed for the Charlotte Bobcats' job. The Sonics are also seeking a general manager.

The former point guard joined Avery Johnson’s staff this season after a stint with the Fort Worth Flyers in the NBA Development League. Vincent also has extensive international head coaching experience.

Del Harris, the Mavs No. 1 assistant and a holdover from Don Nelson’s staff, could also appear on some candidate lists. His contract is expiring, but Harris, who turns 70 on June 18, has not divulged his plans.

-- Jeff

Would you trade Dirk?

That's our poll question of the moment on the Mavs page. Knee-jerk? Yeah, but it's not like people aren't talking about it. So go vote.