The Smoking Cuban
FanSided

Dallas Mavericks: Three moves we still wish were April Fool’s jokes

By Kohl Rast

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 21: Head Coach Rick Carlisle of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 21, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 21: Head Coach Rick Carlisle of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 21, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – DECEMBER 25: The Dallas Mavericks pose for a photo as they raise their 2010-2011 Championship banner to the rafters on December 25, 2011 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – DECEMBER 25: The Dallas Mavericks pose for a photo as they raise their 2010-2011 Championship banner to the rafters on December 25, 2011 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Breaking up the 2011 Championship team

Maybe the most egregious miss for the Mavs on a surface level and with an immediate impact was the decision to forget the chance of a championship repeat in the 2011-12 season and instead focus on finding big name free agents. This miss was wrong on a number of levels.

The first level is the obvious: this team had just won a title against LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the rest of the Miami Heat players. Winning a title is something that is very difficult to do, evidenced by the Mavs having only one championship in franchise history. Taking away even the slightest chance of this team repeating seems wrong even to this day.

The next level that the team missed on was the historical level. Dallas had just proven that a championship was possible with one superstar and the right role players around him. This approach has not been taken by any title contending team since then and people really forget how big of a deal it was for the Mavs to do that to a LeBron led team.

The last level is just a nostalgia based critique. This was the last time we got to see some Mavericks fan-favorites like DeShawn Stevenson, Peja Stojakovic, Tyson Chandler (kind of) and even Caron Butler. Most of these guys still had life in them and wanted to see another run to the finals, but Mark Cuban and company had other plans.

The Mavs faltered in the following free agency and have not been able to set their sights on a playoff run since then, yet another sad ending to one of the most exciting teams in NBA history.

Ryan Broekhoff could be a role player next season. Next

The Dallas Mavericks have made some good moves and made some bad ones. These are just a few that we wish we could take back.