--The Mavericks will be limited financially this offseason to make moves, but management has zeroed in on what type of player the team needs most to improve.
"The guy you're talking about is someone to replace what Stack (Jerry Stackhouse) gave us for four or five years -- a guy who came off the bench and was going to guarantee double-figure scoring," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "He was going to draw double teams and help create shots, and he brought a tough-minded physical presence to both the floor and the locker room. So yeah, there is a void to fill. And the void is Stack."
--A major mistake Mavs management made last season was giving the entire mid-level exception to offensively deficient center DeSagana Diop instead of going after available athletic wings that can run the floor and shoot the 3-ball, players such as Matt Barnes or Mickael Pietrus.
What does Jason Terry say the Mavs now need to acquire to improve?
"A shooter, a scorer," said Terry, who could have used some help this postseason after shooting below 40 percent in the 10 games.
The Mavs didn't get much scoring out of Antoine Wright and they tried to make up for the Diop debacle by trading him to Charlotte for 3-point specialist Matt Carroll and developmental center Ryan Hollins.
Acquired to spread the floor and can 3s, surprisingly Carroll never could break into the rotation and only saw the court during garbage time. Carroll is also now the Mavs player with the longest contract. He's signed, albeit modestly, through 2012-13, with the final season being a player option.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "After I played here for 11 years, played hurt, played sick, whatever they needed me to do, basically playing my heart out for the last 11 years, I don't think it would feel the same way somewhere else. It's always been my dream here to finish my career and win a championship. I think my window has not closed yet." -- Dirk Nowitzki, on wanting to finish his career with the Mavericks.
