30-year old Chris Kaman was a good pickup for the Mavericks.  He played in 47 games (33 starts) for the Hornets last year and he averaged 29.2 minutes, 13.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 blocked shots per game.  Kaman has now played in 540 games (458 starts) in his first 9 years in the NBA and he is averaging 29.7 minutes, 11.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game.  Elton Brand will likely play some at center for the Mavericks this year too.  27-year old rookie Bernard James came to the Mavs in the second round of last June’s NBA Draft.  James played in 69 games in his two years at Florida State in which he averaged 24.6 minutes, 9.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 2.4 blocked shots per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CENTERS IN 2012-13:  B

34-year old Dirk Nowitzki has underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and he will miss the next 3-6 weeks.  He played in 62 games (all starts) for the Mavericks last year and he averaged 33.5 minutes, 21.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.  Nowitzki has now played in 1,055 games (1,030 starts) in his first 14 years in the NBA and he is averaging 36.3 minutes, 22.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game.  33-year old Elton Brand will likely play both at power forward and center for the Mavericks in 2012-13.  Brand played in 60 games (all starts) for the 76ers last year and he averaged 28.9 minutes, 11.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.6 blocked shots per game.  He has now played in 860 games (830 starts) in his first 13 years in the NBA and he is averaging 36.3 minutes, 18.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.9 blocked shots per game.  25-year old Brandan Wright was a rock solid player off the bench for the Mavericks last year.  He played in 49 games (0 starts) for the Mavericks last year and he averaged 16.1 minutes, 6.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game.  Wright has now played in 163 games (31 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 13.7 minutes, 5.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  22-year old Jae Crowder is going to be #4 in line at power forward for the Mavs in 2012-13.  He was a 2nd round pick out of Marquette in last June’s NBA Draft.  Crowder played in 72 games in his two years in college and he averaged 30.2 minutes, 14.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE POWER FORWARDS IN 2012-13:  A

The Mavericks are getting a little long in the tooth at small forward, but they still got guys with game there.  34-year old Shawn Marion is back as the starter for 2012-13.  He played in 63 games (all starts) for the Mavericks last year and he averaged 30.5 minutes, 10.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  He has now played in 963 games (895 starts) in his first 13 years and he is averaging 35.9 minutes, 16.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocked shots per game.  35-year old Vince Carter will be Marion’s backup in 2012-13.  Carter played in 61 games (40 starts) for the Mavs last year and he averaged 25.3 minutes, 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.  He has now played in 986 games (947 starts) in his first 14 years in the NBA and he is averaging 35.7 minutes, 21.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  31-year old Dahntay Jones played in 65 games (3 starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 16.2 minutes, 5.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.  Jones has now played in 511 games (138 starts) in his first 9 years in the NBA and he is averaging 16.8 minutes, 6.0 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.  Jones will be #3 in line at small forward for the Mavericks in 2012-13.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SMALL FORWARDS IN 2012-13:  B-

24-year old O.J. Mayo was signed over the summer to start at shooting guard for the Mavericks in 2012-13.  Mayo played in 66 games (0 starts) for the Grizzlies last year and he averaged 26.8 minutes, 12.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  He has now played in 301 games (181 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 32.8 minutes, 15.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  Look for him to average between 18-20 points per night for the Mavericks in 2012-13.  29-year old Delonte West will be Mayo’s top backup this year.  West played in 44 games (33 starts) for the Mavericks last year and he averaged 24.1 minutes, 9.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game.  He has now played in 432 games (258 starts) in his first 8 years in the NBA and he is averaging 27.4 minutes, 9.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  West can also play the point if the Mavs need him to.  23-year old Dominique Jones is going to have to beat out 21-year old rookie Jared Cunningham in training camp if he wants to be #3 in line at shooting guard for the Mavs in 2012-13.  Jones played in 33 games (1 start) for the Mavs last year and he averaged 8.1 minutes, 2.7 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.  He has now played in 51 games (1 start) in his first two years with the Mavericks and he is averaging 7.9 minutes, 2.5 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.  But, he’s only shooting 36.4% from the floor so far in his career and that won’t get it done.  Jared Cunningham was a first round pick in last June’s NBA Draft.  He played in 98 games in his three years at Oregon State in which he averaged 27.9 minutes, 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.2 steals per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SHOOTING GUARDS IN 2012-13:  B

The Dallas Mavericks are going young and point guard in 2012-13.  They dealt for 25-year old Darren Collison over the summer and he will be the starting point guard for them in 2012-13.  Collison played in 60 games (56 starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 31.3 minutes, 10.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.  He has now played in 215 games (172 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he is averaging 29.5 minutes, 12.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  He is a good offensive player.  The Mavericks hope that 24-year old Rodrigue Beaubois can handle backing up Collison in 2012-13.  Beaubois played in 53 games (12 starts) for the Mavericks last year and he averaged 21.7 minutes, 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  He has now played in 137 games (54 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he is averaging 17.1 minutes, 8.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists.  Delonte West could also get some P.T. at the point for the Mavs in 2012-13.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE POINT GUARDS IN 2012-13:  B-

The Mavericks need more help at center for 2011-12, as Tyson Chandler is a restricted free agent.  As of right now, 32-year old Brendan Haywood would be the Mavs’ starting center.  He played in 72 games (8 starts) for the Mavericks last year and he averaged 18.5 minutes, 4.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game.  He has now played in 679 games (477 starts) in his NBA career so far and he is averaging 23.9 minutes, 7.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game.  25-year old Ian Mahinmi would be Haywood’s backup in the pivot if the season started today.  Mahinmi played in 56 games (0 starts) for the Mavericks last year and he averaged 8.7 minutes, 3.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game.  He has now played in 88 games (0 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he is averaging 7.7 minutes, 3.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game.

33-year old power forward Dirk Nowitzki continues to roll along for the Dallas Mavericks.  He played in 73 games (all starts) for the Mavericks last year and he averaged 34.3 minutes, 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.  Nowitzki has now played in 993 games (968 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 36.5 minutes, 23.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game.  He has shot 38.1% from the three point line in his career, which is amazing for a player Nowitzki’s size as he is a legit 7-footer.  The Mavericks have built their team around Nowitzki, so they hope he has another big year in 2011-12.

33-year old small forward Shawn Marion played pretty solid basketball for the Mavericks last year, especially in the playoffs.  Marion played in 80 games (27 starts) for the Mavs last year and he averaged 28.2 minutes, 12.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.  He has now played in 900 games (832 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 36.3 minutes, 16.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.2 blocked shots per game.  The Mavericks will likely sign a free agent or make a deal for Marion’s backup in the near future.

The Mavericks dealt for 26-year old shooting guard Rudy Fernandez with the idea of starting him in 2011-12.  Fernandez played in 78 games (3 starts) for the Trailblazers last year and he averaged 23.3 minutes, 8.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  He has now played in 218 games (9 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he is averaging 24.1 minutes, 9.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  Fernandez is only shooting 39% from the floor to this point in his NBA career, but the Mavericks think he will improve that number with consistent playing time.  34-year old Jason Terry will get most of his minutes at shooting guard but he will get some of them at the point too.  Terry played in 82 games (10 starts) for the Mavericks last year and he averaged 31.3 minutes, 15.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  He has now played in 959 games (625 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 33.6 minutes, 16.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  Terry is a money player as he hit a lot of big shots to help the Mavericks win the 2010-11 NBA Title.  23-year old Rodrigue Beaubois has a lot of potential, but he can’t seem to stay healthy.  Beaubois played in 28 games (26 starts) for the Mavs last year and he averaged 17.7 minutes, 8.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.  He has now played in 84 games (12 starts) in his first two years with the Mavericks and he is averaging 14.2 minutes, 7.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.  25-year old Corey Brewer is known more for his defense than his offense.  He played in 69 games (24 starts) for the T-Wolves & Mavs last year and he averaged 21.9 minutes, 8.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game.  Brewer has now played in 245 games (149 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 24.9 minutes, 8.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game.  It might be hard for Brewer to find P.T. at shooting guard this year.  23-year old Dominique Jones only played in 18 games (0 starts) as a rookie last year for the Mavericks and he averaged 7.5 minutes, 2.3 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game on 31.1% shooting from the floor.

38-year old point guard Jason Kidd is starting to run out of gas.  He played in 80 games (all starts) for the Mavericks last year and he averaged 33.2 minutes, 7.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Kidd only shot 36.1% from the floor and 34% from three point range last year and that is terrible.  Kidd has now played in 1,267 games (1,254 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 36.9 minutes, 13.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game.  As of right now, Jason Terry is his backup, despite his best position being shooting guard.  If the Mavericks don’t bring J.J. Barea back in 2011-12, they will need to bring in another point guard to back up Kidd.