Fri Jun 20 09:32:06 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Dallas Mavericks 2008 Draft Preview

---

(Sports Network) - The draft is not going to have an impact on the Dallas Mavericks' roster. They will not pick until late in the second round, 59th overall.

Dallas gambled when it acquired All-Star point guard Jason Kidd from the New Jersey Nets prior to the trade deadline. It had to part with Devin Harris in the deal.

The trade did not work out the way the Mavericks had hoped, and there could be personnel changes on the way. The team replaced head coach Avery Johnson with Rick Carlisle.

Former MVP Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks in scoring (23.6 ppg) and rebounding (8.6 rpg), while Kidd averaged 10.8 points, 7.5 boards and 10.1 assists in 80 games for Dallas and New Jersey.

Josh Howard or Jason Terry could be the players Dallas tries to trade. Howard posted 19.9 and 7.0 rebounds in 76 contests this past season, while Terry averaged 15.5 points and shot 37.5 percent from beyond the arc. Both players have value, and one of them may be sacrificed to help breathe some new life into the team.

2007-08 Results: 51-31, lost to New Orleans in first round of playoffs.

Key Player(s): Brandon Bass (Forward), Erick Dampier (Center), Devean George (Forward), Josh Howard (Forward), Jason Kidd (Guard), Dirk Nowitzki (Forward), Jerry Stackhouse (Guard), Jason Terry (Guard).

Team Needs: A consistent outside shooter and a shutdown defender.

Draft picks: 2nd round (51st overall).