<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">PHOENIX -- Would Mark Cuban trade Dirk Nowitzki? Surely, the Mavericks owner isn't stupid enough to do that. But you probably said the same thing last summer when Steve Nash said he wanted to stay and would if the Mavs matched the Suns' $66 million offer. Cuban refused, Nash went to Phoenix. And Cuban is sticking by his story that he did the right thing and that we'll all see the logic of it eventually. If Nash breaks down in the next few years, Cuban will have been right. But so far Cuban's gamble looks miserable, especially the way Nowitzki erupted about Erick Dampier and Jason Terry in the conference semifinals loss to the Suns. Dampier and Terry were acquired with the money the Mavs wouldn't spend on Nash. Nowitzki admitted that he played poorly in the playoffs, and many around the league believe Nowitzki will have difficulty adjusting to new coach Avery Johnson. Johnson wants to implement a more defensive system and use Nowitzki more in the post, where Nowitzki admits he's uncomfortable. Plus, Nowitzki was close to former coach Don Nelson and an advocate of Nelson's style of play. So what if the Mavericks could get Kevin Garnett for Nowitzki? No one has said either team is interested, but the Timberwolves need assets to reconfigure and Cuban is forever tinkering with his team. Who doesn't believe he'll make changes again? He practically broke up the team when it went to the conference finals two years ago. One of the reasons Nelson was so willing to leave (after he was assured he'd be paid) is Nelson couldn't believe the team let Nash go, something Nelson and Nowitzki bemoaned during the season.</div> Source
Could they trade Nowitzki? Not likely, but Cuban and the front office is capable of anything. Should they trade Nowitzki? I think it would be premature. I think Nowitzki has NOT yet shown all that he can be. He is growing as a player, and now growing into his new role as team leader. Has he made mistakes as leader? Sure he has, but NOT everyone can just jump into a leadership position and NOT make mistakes. I say give him more time and he will learn to be both the player and the leader Mavs fans want him to be. Will Cuban "tinker" with his team? He says he won't, but it's this nature to "tinker" tha has made Cuban both a blessing and a curse as an owner. My request is that he leave this roster alone and allow them to grow up together.
