Unbridled Opinion: Win-now League

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/7330900/tyson-chandler-dallas-mavericks-nears-deal-new-york-knicks-sources-say

Conventional Wisdom tells us that the NBA is a "win-now" league. That would dictate that when a team is on a hot streak, they should ride it until the wheels fall off. Especially when you're the oldest roster in the Association, like the Dallas Mavericks. If we're to believe the sports hype, what are the reigning NBA Champs doing exactly?

Owner Mark Cuban reportedly sees an opportunity to be under the luxury tax for the first time since purchasing the team. This means not offering big pay days to Tyson Chandler, J.J. Barea, and Caron Butler, so they can instead sign with the competition. Fine, I get that. But the reports suggest that the Mavs are avoiding huge contracts this year in the hopes of signing one of the big free agent names in the next off-season. That class includes Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, and Deron Williams. Um, those guys have already said their lists include specific markets, none of which appear to include the DFW Metroplex.

The Association just wrapped a 160+ day stalemate which in large-part dealt with teams specifically attempting to avoid the free agent maelstrom that occurred when Chris Bosh and LeBron James left their former teams with nothing when they departed for Miami. New Orleans and Orlando aren't going to accept the same situation with their stars who have their eyes locked on the largest markets either Coast has to offer. Which means they'll both get sign-and-trade deals THIS year. Not next, when the Mavs are talking about spending money again.

The Mavs have the oldest legs in the NBA, they have the talent and the ability to repeat in a shortened season. What I'm left to gather, because I trust the front office in Dallas, is that they have something else up their sleeves.  We, the leering public, don't have all the pieces of the picture. In no way does Mark Cuban strike me as the type of guy that is happy with a one-and-done Championship run, so there has to be more to the story.

But what is it?