<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">DALLAS (AP) -- If Steve Nash wasn't such a big reason the Dallas Mavericks are out of the playoffs, it would be a lot easier for them to feel good about everything they accomplished this season. Even before owner Mark Cuban decided not to re-sign the team's offensive linchpin last summer, the Mavericks already were moving in a new direction, one that emphasized defense. Nash's departure accelerated the overhaul, freeing the money to bring in a batch of players better suited to the change. </div> Link
Not signing Nash for max money for 6 years was a decision made for the future. It came and bit them in the arse this year, but the plan is that in the long term, this decision will eventually pay off. The hope is that Devin Harris will realize his potential. The hope is that Dampier or another center will anchor the middle. There are no guarantees in the NBA, only potential and actualities. This team without Terry and Dampier, but with Nash would NOT have necessarily gotten passed Houston. Dallas with Nash would NOT have gotten any further than this team, and they wouldn't have had as bright a future either. Don't get me wrong, I love Nash, but his skill set has been optimized at Phoenix and in Dallas he would have still been passing to jump shooters. So, Dallas made a tough decision of letting go of Nash, but only time will tell if that decision for the long-term will pay-off or not.
