Mike James is grateful for his opportunity with the Dallas Mavericks. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Mike James is a frequent traveler of tough roads. Before making it to the NBA in 2001 with the Miami Heat, James had thee years under his belt as a professional basketball player overseas and a few games with the Rockford Lightning of the CBA.

Once James made it the NBA, he has played for nine different franchises in eight seasons. He had his best season in 2005-06 with the Toronto Raptors when he averaged 20.3 points per game. 2013 finds James at the end of another unexpected NBA season with another franchise. He started this year at home with his wife and four daughters wanting for a call from someone. Dallas was that team.

We caught up with the 38-year old point guard after the Mavericks overtime win against the Denver Nuggets to reflect on this season and what his plans are for the future.

TSC; First, how important was this win tonight against Denver?

MJ: “It’s good. We know that this [has] been a tough season for us, but we fought hard and this is a good team. They are one of the top three teams in the Western Conference and in the NBA. We have struggled all year against some of the best teams this season and for us to be able to play good for the whole game, stay in tune for the whole game, is definitely good for our own confidence. Its unfortunate when we drop games with the bottom teams in the NBA, but then we get up to play against the top teams in the NBA.

TSC: Why is that?

MJ: This is the NBA. Even though guys may have losing records, sometimes what separates a team with a losing record may be one or two points in games. Phoenix is a pretty good team and they were hitting shots. Tonight, our defense was better tonight.

TSC: Since a lot of players, yourself included, don’t know where they are going to be at next year does that make them not want to play as good? As a veteran that has been through that before, what is your mindset for the last three games?

MJ: We want to end this season on a positive note. We understand that people can’t focus on free agency, because they better you play, and if you  relax now it takes away from who you really are and what you are really trying to accomplish. Our biggest goal and our biggest issue is to continue to keep playing hard. If you a veteran, [then] you should understand that every game is valuable. Even if we are mathematically out of the equation for the playoffs…we still have to continue to be professional and continue to keep earning our keep, so every game we have to give it our all.

TSC: Have you thought what you want to do at the end of this season?

MJ: We’ll see. Of course, I would love to be here, but that’s not my decision. I’m grateful for the opportunity they gave me this year. It’s a blessing because as a veteran it made me relevant again in the NBA and opened up a lot of eyes. All I’m going to focus on these last three games is playing  with my heart, playing hard, and preparing myself for the summertime. Wherever the chips fall, I will be prepared.

It was not long after joining the Mavericks that James was inserted in the starting lineup, moving Darren Collison to the bench. Now in those close games it’s James that handles the point instead of Collison, which speaks loudly in a Rick Carlisle system that relies heavily on the ability of the point guard to make the right decision.

Mike James opportunities will be limited in a young NBA, but if the call comes, he will be ready.

The Mavericks have signed Drew Gooden, is a 6-10, 27 year-old Center/Power Forward who spent last season in Chicago & San Antonio and played in the NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2006. Gooden isn’t an All-Star but I feel he is a capable backup, even starter at the center position when it is needed who will add some experience on the court along with rebounding, toughness and a decent ability to score. He is 12 point, 8 rebound per game player and still has quite a few years left to be productive.

My Grade: B

With the Magic swooping in at the last minute and the Mavericks apparently wanting to hold on to Dampier until next season when his expiring contract might be a key piece in acquiring a big name free agent the Mavericks were left with trying to find a free agent to replace the minutes they had in mind for Gortat. Gortat might turn out to be a very good player but it’s still a guessing game at this point. Gooden will supply the Mavericks with what they were wanting out of Gortat and at least they know what they will get from Gooden. All in all not a bad move but it doesn’t knock my socks off either.

The Mavericks also signed Tim Thomas a 6-10, 32 year-old Forward who spent last season in New York & Chicago. Thomas is an end of the bench player who can play both the small forward and power forward position. He improves the Mavericks as a 3 point shooting team which is something that they were near the bottom of the league last season statistically.

My Grade: C-

Tim Thomas doesn’t really offer a lot as a player at this point of his career and seems to be more mouth than game. Sure he is a decent shooter from beyond the arc but I honestly don’t see him earning a lot of playing time thus not making much of an impact next season. Does he make the Mavericks’ bench better? Sure… will he allow the Mavericks to win more games next season, I really doubt it.

Right now the Mavericks have 17 players under contract and I still expect them to make an offer to Ryan Hollins. I think it is in the Mavericks best interest to package a combination of Jawai, Carroll, Williams, Humphries & Buckner and try to get one more quality player. There are rumors that Rashad McCants wants to play in Dallas which would be a great addition. If they can dump some of the roster’s fat and add a McCants and perhaps a Sessions (would probably require trading Barrea which I am fine with if they add Sessions and McCants) I would look at the Mavericks off-season as a great success.

If the Mavericks stand pat I look at them as a top 5 team in the Western Conference. The Lakers are clearly the class of the conference with the Nuggets, Spurs, Blazers and Mavericks all vying for 2nd best. I would expect the Mavericks to at least have home court in the first round of the playoffs next season and hopefully I am correct. I still don’t think they have enough to beat the Lakers at this point but basketball is a sport and strange things can happen in sports. At this point we all just have to wait and see.