DMN: Mavericks roster breakdown

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Mavericks roster breakdown

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

The Mavericks will take stock after a disappointing season and figure out who brings enough to the table to merit a spot on next season's roster. We examine the current roster to see who stays and who goes.

YOUR RESERVATION IS CONFIRMED

These are the chefs who can stand the heat in the kitchen and will be part of next season's recipe:

G Marquis Daniels
Restricted free agent

Age: 23.

What happened: Came in as an undrafted rookie, played his way into a starting role.

Stock: Skyrocketing. He's got a great future ahead of him.

The future: From a nobody to a multimillionaire. That's the course Daniels has taken. He paid his dues for more than half a season, then stepped into Don Nelson's rotation and produced three 30-point games. Whatever anybody around the league wants to pay him, the Mavericks will match it – and add years if needed – to ensure he stays with the team. That his best friend is Josh Howard will help the Mavericks facilitate the signing.

G/F Michael Finley
Signed through 2007-08 ($14.6 million in 2004-05)

Age: 31.

What happened: Had a terrific run for three months before late-season injury.

Stock: Still paying good dividends, though he's no longer a blue-chipper.

The future: If it weren't for the string of zeroes attached to the end of his contract, it would be extremely bright. The biggest fear is that Finley's production continues a slow drop while his annual salary creeps up to a final year of $18.5 million. That number is going to make him extremely difficult to trade, even if the Mavs wanted to. He's not perfect, but he's a great role model for the young players who will inherit Finley's spot.

G/F Josh Howard
Signed through 2006-07 ($823,640 in 2004-05)

Age: 24.

What happened: Fit in as a rotation player from the very beginning.

Stock: Figures to pay off for many years after being 29th overall pick.

The future: With Daniels, he figures to be one of the anchors of the franchise into the foreseeable future. He's a terrific rebounder and an excellent defender. His shooting needs to improve, but the Mavericks figure he's the heir apparent to Finley. Howard may never score like Tracy McGrady, but he's got the ability to be better in every other aspect . Hopefully, he'll keep a level head and keep improving.

G Steve Nash
Unrestricted free agent

Age: 30.

What happened: Had a consistent season – until the playoffs.

Stock: Few have been as dependable for honest returns on investment.

The future: A dicey call. Nash and agent Bill Duffy are going to come out with guns blazing trying to get a maximum-level contract. Mark Cuban seems more interested in toeing the financial line than he has been. And Nash's longevity has to be considered. Still, the guess is that this contract is going to get done. It just may be a little sticky getting to the finish line. Here's a question: Is Daniels the point guard of the future?

F Dirk Nowitzki
Signed through 2007-08 ($12.6 million in 2004-05)

Age: 25.

What happened: Saw his scoring dip and the rest of his game stay level.

Stock: Still on the upswing. His game is a couple assets away from the elite.

The future: Probably the closest thing they have to an untouchable, he's a cornerstone for the franchise. Talk all you want about the ankles, the Game 4 shooting, the lack of defense and low-post game that doesn't register on anybody's scale. He's still a star in this league. And he's young enough to work on his deficiencies. There is no reason he shouldn't be the franchise player for years to come.

THEY COULD USE A LITTLE SEASONING

Players with no guarantees but who are expected to return to the Mavericks, perhaps with different roles than they had this season:

F Antawn Jamison
Signed through 2007-08 ($12.6 million in 2004-05)

Age: 27.

What happened: Won NBA's Sixth Man Award and was an asset throughout the season.

Stock: Ready to take off. He has a big upside with a return to starting lineup.

The future: He wants to get back into the starting lineup and it's likely he'll do so next season. The Mavericks love his ability to shoot at a high percentage, and he's a good rebounder. The question is whether Jamison remains happy in a backup role, even though it's in name only. He has loads of value around the league, and his name will arise in trade speculation. But he may be part of the solution to the Mavericks' problems.

F Eduardo Najera
Signed through 2007-08 ($3.8 million in 2004-05)

Age: 27.

What happened: Mostly ineffective in the regular season, but contributed in the playoffs.

Stock: Split. Energetic and rugged at times, unable to compete at others.

The future: A decision will have to be made soon on whether he's a long- term asset for the franchise. His knees seem to continually hinder him. He's undersized. But he brings a passion and energy that cannot be denied. The question is whether the Mavs now will get that from Howard and Daniels, leaving Najera no niche. It would be a hugely unpopular move to ship him out, but the Mavericks will have to consider everything with Najera.

A TABLE NEAR THE BATHROOMS

This group has ability, but each of their futures is uncertain. If they return, it likely will be as role players:

C Shawn Bradley
Signed through 2006-07 ($4 million in 2004-05)

Age: 32.

What happened: Had the least-productive season of his career in most categories.

Stock: On the decline, for sure. But his defense could still help the right team.

The future: As frustrating as Bradley can be, he's capable of changing a handful of games each season with his long arms and shot-blocking instincts. His contract is not nearly the albatross that some people make it out to be. Still, his value around the league remains relatively low and the Mavericks likely won't be able to include him in multi-player trade scenarios. They may be destined to ride out the rest of his contract.

G Tony Delk
Signed through 2005-06 ($3.15 million in 2004-05)

Age: 30.

What happened: Fought injuries after a promising first two months.

Stock: Steady. He's no star but can be solid backup on good team.

The future: Murky, to say the least. Delk has a good reputation as a shooter who can help teams, and that will make him popular in any trade talks. And his contract is palatable. The success of the Mavericks' rookies put a dent on his ability to get on the court and could signal a new destination for Delk before next season. But his shooting ability still intrigues the Mavericks, and he might not be a bad insurance policy for them to keep around.

C/F Danny Fortson
Signed through 2005-06 ($5.9 million in 2004-05)

Age: 28.

What happened: Worked hard, rebounded well, got little playing time.

Stock: Probably rising. There are teams out there who can use his bulk and bulwark to their advantage.

The future: He could play for the Lakers. Or the Rockets. Or any team that has a full-fledged center. But on the Mavericks, he's undersized and has defensive deficiencies that have offset the good things he does on the boards and offensively. Fortson will never have trouble finding a job. He works hard and has a nose for the ball. But he simply doesn't fit on a team built around shooters and lively young athletes.

C Scott Williams
Unrestricted free agent

Age: 36.

What happened: He ended up being not much better or different than the other centers.

Stock: On the steady decline for the last several years.

The future: He has a magnetic personality and a team-first attitude that is grounded in reality. But his game simply has slipped too far to merit significant playing time on a good team. His value could be as a coach or player/coach, which will be the logical next step in his career. It's too bad the Mavericks couldn't have had him five years ago when the legs were still as willing as the heart. He'd have been a perfect fit.

FIND A NEW BUFFET LINE

No shoes, no shirt, no service? How about no game, no role, no place on this team?

G/F Tariq Abdul-Wahad
Signed through 2006-07 ($6.75 million in 2004-05)

Age: 25. He sat out all season with left knee tendinitis. Trade fodder.

G Travis Best
Unrestricted free agent

Age: 31. Got bypassed in the playing rotation by a rookie. Still a serviceable backup for right team.

G Jon Stefansson
Restricted free agent

Age: 21. Spent the season on the injured list while trying to learn the NBA game. He's not ready yet.

C/F Antoine Walker
Signed through 2004-05 ($14.5 million)

Age: 27.

What happened: He showed he can rebound, but his game was ill-suited for this system.

Stock: Because he's in the last year of his contract, he's got value.

The future: Talk about an experiment that didn't work. He went from point forward to center, and his role diminished steadily. Next stop will be trade bait. There is not much chance of him returning, although if Dallas can't get something decent in return, holding on to him and clearing the cap space isn't a bad plan. Still, he's going to be shopped early and often.