Last year Dallas looked like the team of the future.  This year they are
back in the lottery.  Lets hope that a new Usenet GM can change the
teams fortunes.  That GM is:

  Gary Gaffney

and he selects:

  Lorenzen Wright, PF, 6-11, Memphis State.

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I. Team Needs/History

The Dallas Mavericks look big at 3 positions, at least on paper, and
sometimes on the court.  Superb players man both guard slots and the small
forward slot.  Unfortunately, the Mavs suffered a disastrous year,
experiencing myriad troubles throughout.  Maverick leading scorer Jamal
Mashburn, played on a gimpy knee for 18 games, finally undergoing
arthroscopic surgery in February.  Roy Tarpley was dismissed form the NBA
due to the substance abuse policy.  Tarpley was to supply the veteran
stabilizing influence for the Mavs youngsters.  The Mavs super-trio of
Mashburn, Kidd and Jackson frequently seemed to be feuding.  Tony Dumas
attracted publicity when he was arrested for assault.  In the end, all this
discord cost Jack Motta his job.  Now new coach Jimmy Cleamons brings the
Chicago style to Texas.

With a disastrous 26-56 record (16-25 home; 10-31 road), the Mavs need
a 20 game turn-around next year.  Having a healthy Mashburn should
help.  However, a solid inside game is likely to pay huge dividends,
especially if Coach Cleamons plays in similar style to Chicago
triangle offense.  The Mavs personnel just might fit into this concept.

Free Agents:  Scott Brooks, Lucios Harris, Lorenzo Williams

The Good, the Bad, and the Downright Ugly:

The Mavs shattered the NBA 3-point record by going 735 of 2039 from
beyond the trifecta line.  However, the Mavs have almost no inside
game, and at times no inside defense.

Dallas was 0 - 4 in one point games;  7 - 9 in three points or less
contests;  and 4-4 in overtime games.

Kidd was second in the NBA in assists (9.7 apg), and fourth in steals
(2.16 spg).  Jason recorded 9 triple doubles.

George McCloud now owns second place on the NBA's 3-point list with
257 in the 1995-96 season (Dennis Scott is #1 with 267).

Dallas lost 14 of 17 games in March

The Mavericks missed 212 player-games with injuries.

The most productive lineup was McCloud/Jones/Meyer/Kidd/Jackson at
8-12.  McCloud/Jones/William/Kidd/Jackson went 6-21. and
Mashburn/Jones/Williams/Kidd/Jackson were 6-12.

The Mavericks desperately need an inside game.  Very good on the perimeter,
The Mavs lineup featured an extremely anemic paint attack.  The starting
center (Williams) is only 6-9, 200 pounds or so.  Two 1995 draftees,
Cherokee Parks and Loren Meyer, may only develop into adequate back-up
players.  The Mavs will be in the free agent market to pick up an
experienced post player.  Nonetheless,  if an outstanding inside player is
available it is almost mandatory that the Dallas team draft inside help.

A. CENTER

The #5 position remains the most prominent weakness on the Dallas team.
Starting centers barely managed any offensive effort.  Lorenzo Williams (6-9
200, 4, Stetson) went 3.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg.  The two rookies, Loren Meyer (I6-10
260, Iowa State, 5.0 ppg and 4.4 rpg) and Cherokee (nation) Parks (6-11 275,
Duke, 3.9 ppg, and 3.4 rpg), showed only modest potential.  (What's a guy
named Cherokee doing on a team named the Mavericks, anyway?)

B. POWER FORWARD
There's Popeye Jones (6-8 250, 3, Murray State, 11.3 ppg and 10.8 rpg),
and there's...well, Olive Oyl?  Popeye will supply a steady 10 points -10
rebounds the rest of his NBA career.  Jones can hit the 15 - 18 foot jumper.
He works well in snaring rebounds; however the man needs help.  And we don't
mean from the Jeep.  Get Popeye an inside player to assist with the grunge
work.

Depending on the draft, and free agents, Meyer may be able to move to PF to
rest Popeye some.

C. SMALL FORWARD

The Mavericks sit tall in the saddle at the SF slot.  Jamal Mashburn (6-8
240, 3, Kentucky, 23.4 ppg) has superstar potential.  George McCloud (6-8
215, 6, Florida State, 19.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg) can shoot lights out from the trey
range.  Jim Jackson can also play SF.  Given the quality of these players,
the Mavs will not look for SFs in this draft.

Jamal Mashburn was averaging around 23 ppg when he was unable to continue
played secondary to a gimpy knee.  Arthroscopic surgery in February, if
successful, will return Mashburn on his way to becoming an outstanding NBA
small forward.  Mashburn may be perfect to feature in a triangle offense.
Mashburn's rehabilitation appears to be on-time.

Consider the Dallas athleticism at this position:  the shotguns of  Mashburn
and McCloud --scary!

D. SHOOTING GUARD

Jimmy Jackson (6-6 220, 4, Ohio State) is one of the top 5 shooting guards
in the NBA.  Quick on the draw, Jackson can hit from the perimeter, as well
take his opponent inside with his superior upper body muscle.  Jackson
snared 11 offensive rebounds one game last year.  We love his 19.6 ppg, 5.0
rpg, and 2.9 apg.

Tony Dumas (6-6 190, Missouri-Kansas City, 11.6 ppg) and Lucious Harris (6-5
190, 3 Long Beach State, 7.9 ppg) can spell Jackson, or move into the #2
slot if Jackson goes into a small forward slot.  Dumas was maturing and
developing scoring punch this year.  However, his off-court problems cause
management great concern.  Harris and Dumas seem to be adequate role
players.  Whether they will fit into Coach Cleamons system will be seen.

E. POINT GUARD

Jason Kidd (6-4, 210, 2, Cal), starting All-Star point guard, who in his
second year played outstanding basketball.  Kidd was named NBA player of the
week the end of January.  Kidd's 783 assists and 553 rebounds made him the
sixth player in NBA history to record over 700 assists and over 500 rebounds
in a season. 

The backup, Scott Brooks (5-11, 8, Cal-Irvine, 5.1 ppg, 1.5 apg), is a free
agent.  However the Mavs are likely to resign Brooks who supplies adequate
backup for Kidd

II. Your Selection (and explanation)

The Dallas Mavericks select Lorenzen Wright (6-11, 230 PF/C) of Memphis
State University.

We like Wright's ability to score.  We like the way he improved his
rebounding and defense last year.  We love his athletic ability, his hops,
and his quickness.  We feel he can eventually score at a 15-16 ppg clip and
rebound at 10 ppg.  We see Wright as a great fit in Jimmy Cleamon's
offensive scheme.

Management labored over Wright or Erik Dampier.  Both players will likely
mature into solid NBA inside forces.  Our selection hinged on Wright's
advanced offensive development, and overall athletic ability.

III. Others considered (and why considered)

Marcus Camby, 6-10, 220, F/C;  U Mass
Marcus Camby displays qualities we love:  he has excellent athletic
abilities in quickness, agility, and spring.  Camby can offensively via a
number of moves.  He also can be a defensive force.  Camby could play either
center or the power forward slot, although he needs to add muscle in either
position.  We are sure he will mature nicely into a dominant NBA force.

Erik Dampier, C/PF, Mississippi State
We love Eric Dampier's size at 6-11, 255.  We see him as a rebounder and
defensive player in his first year in the NBA.  He will develop into a
better offensive player with time and coaching.  We like his ability to make
the pass, a quality we know Coach Cleamons values.  Dampier would give us
the inside defense we need.  Our perimeter players can carry the offense as
he develops offensive moves.

Todd Fuller, 6-11, 255, C NC State
Fuller's size and progressive improvement in college are impressive.
His scoring has gone form 5 ppg to 21 ppg in his 4 year career.  His
coaching has been pretty good.  We are concerned about his slow
foot-speed and lack of agility.  With last year's draft we took
chances on two similar players. However he work ethic and probable
stability would bode well for his future as a Maverick.


Steve Hamer, 7-0, 245, C Tennessee
Hamer's skills improved significantly over the past 2 seasons.  Lost in a
conference with Kentucky, and the other SEC teams, we believe he may be a
sleeper this year.  However we are not sure he can provide the instant
rebounding and defensive skills we need in 1996-7.

Samaki Walker. 6-9 220, PF Louisville
We like Walker's athletic abilities:  strength, agility, speed.  He is
learning quickly.  We believe he has the skills to be an impact player at
some pointy.  However we see that he needs a bit more seasoning (only having
played half the games as a college sophomore).  Walker has star charisma.
He is a bit short and light for what we need now.  However, he overall
athleticism and his defensive skills could significantly help  us next year.

John Williams, 6-8 225, SF, Syracuse
As the top small forward in the draft, we respect Wallace's athletic
abilities and basketball skills.  However he is much the same as many of our
current players.  We believe he probably combines rebounding and defensive
skills with offensive skills better than some of our current forwards.  He
has a good work ethic too, very important in Coach's view.  We may take
him as a PF.

Antoine Walker, 6-8, 215, SF Kentucky.
We like Walker's ball-handling, and perimeter moves.  We love his
offensive potential.  Again, though we may be overstocked with players
Walker's size.  However we certainly have more than passing interest
in his abilities.


Walter McCarty, 6-10, 230, SF/PF Kentucky
McCarty has the size and athletic skills to make our team.  He is quick, and
likely contribute more offensively inside than any of our current players.
However, his ball handling and passing may need quite a bit of work for NBA
play.  We suspect  that those liabilities may make it difficult for him to
immediately fit into Jimmy's system.

IV.  Who the team will probably take

The Mavericks will likely labor aver the same choices we did:  Wright or
Dampier, if available.  Dallas drafted two large and heavier C/PF types last
year.  This year the team needs the athlete with size and quickness.

V.  Other moves that the team should make

The new owners have both money and will to acquire a veteran center on the
free agent market.  There are several available:  Mutombo, Mourning, O'Neal,
Spencer, Howard and others.

Other moves:
1.  Re-sign Brooks, as a Kidd backup.  attempt re-sign the other free agents
    as role players.
2.  Consider trading one of the SF/SG players.  We would move Dumas.
3.  Assure new coach Jimmy Cleamons of the time and resources to rework the
    Mavs team concept.