"Dampier is a (very) good starting center in this league," Carlisle told the Dallas Morning News. "He really is. And Diop is a guy who would start on a lot of teams, as well. That's a great battle, and that position is going to be one of the strengths of our team.

"If you're going to be a championship-caliber team, defense and rebounding are critical. They are things that are often overlooked to a certain degree. No one has won the NBA championship playing small ball yet. There are teams that have won it that have the ability to go small. But you still have to have size to compete at the highest level."

--The Mavericks are looking to return to elite status in the Western Conference. Those who run the show believe the window for a championship is still open because of former MVP Dirk Nowitzki and fellow Olympian Jason Kidd.

The trick is getting consistent contributions from the supporting cast, namely Jason Terry, Josh Howard, Erick Dampier, Gana Diop, Jerry Stackhouse and Brandon Bass. Charged with the task of getting it back together is Rick Carlisle, a veteran coach with an even-handed approach who led playoff teams in Detroit and Indiana.

Dallas also heads into camp in much different position than years past: Underdog. Legitimate contenders for most of the decade, these Mavs face the harsh reality of lowered expectations. The consensus is they're the fourth-best team in the stout Southwest Division and will be fighting for one of the final playoff spots in the West.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I have explained to him that cell phone cameras are not your friend and that what you think you said on camera is never what people will hear when it shows up on YouTube or TV." -- Mark Cuban's advice for Josh Howard.