03/05/13: Mavericks chat with SportsDay beat writer Eddie Sefko

Howdy everybody. We're ready to chat up the Mavericks. Please, no Cowboy questions. Save them for D-Moore even though we all know my answers would be better than his. We'll stay Mav-centric.

That's the funny thing about centers. They tend to command a huge salary, even if they are damaged goods. And Bynum certainly is that. It looks like he won't play much this season, if at all. And while he's immensely talented, he's not a sure thing moving forward. Then again, is Dwight Howard? Somebody's going to pay Bynum and it's going to be a team that is willing to take a huge risk with its availble money. Hmmm... Who could that be, I wonder? And by the way, sorry about the slow reply. Had some techincal issues.

I most definitely think it will be a sign and trade. That's just the way it usually happens these days. Either that or a superstar stays put, which is more likely, by the way. But you have to take your swings when you think there's a good pitch to hit. Glad you were able to snag that signature. Dirk's usually great at those kinds of things.

It would be hard for the Mavericks to upgrade their international scouting. They've had two or three people devoted to it for years. And of course, Donnie Nelson knows just about everybody in every international basketball organization. Tony Ronzone does a great job locating and schmoozing with talent internationally. These guys know exactly who can play and who can't. And they also know which NBA talent that's hiding out overseas might be ready for a return to the NBA. It's no longer a private science watching the international game. If you're not global, you're not keeping up with the competition. I'm not sure of the name of the big 6-9 point guard over in Greece, but I hear he's on everybody's radar, even though he's only 17, I think and he's the younger brother of a 19-year-old who's got game, too.

Expect more losses, first of all. But I'd also expect to see Carlisle trying every different combination he can think of to see if there's a match between Dirk and anybody else moving forward. This season also has become a 23-game tryout camp for players to show that they can be effective without being selfish.

Good Lord, I hope it's not Tyreke Evans. I think he's the kind of player who can help you lose games, not win them. Then again, maybe he'll figure out how to harness that talent he has at some point. I like Jefferson, and we've already discussed Bynum. The kid from Minnesota is a great name, but I can't see any way that the Wolves let himi get away. There's only four months to free agency. So I'd say we have some time to see which way the wind blows between now and then. I'd focus on the draft first and possible trades at draft time.

I can assure you he remains competitive. But he's trying to do it by being smarter than everybdy else about the salary cap. The one place he may have misjudged was just how good Tyson Chandler was going to be these two years. He's a borderline star who can help attract other good players. And he doesn't take the spotlight away from the No. 1 star on the team. And even though I'm not a Carmelo Anthony fan, he is the unquestioned leader of that team. Cuban gets one more big swing in my book and if we're looking at another rental team next season, then he should be roasted.

About the same chance as me hitting the mega-millions tonight.

Silly quesiton. Of course. He's on the first year of a new four-year deal. And he's proven he can work with players and they will work for him. Anybody out there really think he's the problem?????

Yea, I have a hard time seeing the comparison. They got Jason Terry out of the deal and they had five players who were all considered high-quality players who were in the starting lineup or first off the bench. Too many hands. Not enough basketballs, as it turned out. But this team is the other way around. Just the right amount of basketballs, just not enough high-quality people taking advantage of great opportunities to shine this season.