Two things to ponder on the plus side for the thousands of Mavericks fans crying out, "I can't believe Marcin Gortat isn't really coming."
One is that the possibility of watching Ryan Hollins play more minutes at the offensive end isn't such a bad thing. Second is that watching Erick Dampier, if you close your eyes when the Mavericks have possession of the Basketball, well, it isn't great at the defensive end, but it's not terrible. And sometimes it's pretty good.
Beyond that, the Mavericks truly messed up in assuming that the signing of Gortat for $34 million over five years ended their worries at center and ended Gortat's days with the Orlando Magic.
Turns out neither of those happened.
The Magic matched the offer, and if it's true that Mavericks president Donnie Nelson proceeded with the assumption that he had Orlando's word there would be no match, then shame on Donnie.
He, of all people, should know better.
The Phoenix Suns thought they had a draft night deal worked out with Golden State that would send its first-round pick Stephen Curry and a package of players to the Suns for Amare Stoudemire.
Suns GM Steve Kerr thought he had someone's word at Golden State.
Namely Don Nelson's.
These things happen. All the time.
And now the Mavericks , though better than they were a few days ago with the acquisition of Shawn Marion, won't get Gortat and have lost backup Brandon Bass, and there's not a heck of a lot of time left to fill those voids.
In addition, while Orlando can't deal Gortat until Dec. 15, the hottest trade candidate for the Magic (Dallas can't trade for him for a year) is the Houston Rockets, who are looking for someone to play the pivot after losing Yao Ming to injury again.
Do you see a No. 5 seed in the West (after the Lakers, Denver, Portland, San Antonio) slipping into the distance?
