Dallas Mavericks: Let The Carmelo Anthony Chase Begin

Upon giving my praise to the Dallas Mavericks for a great season on Tuesday, I made a subtle note regarding a 6-foot-10 big man from the Miami Heat should come back home to Dallas.

Well, strike that. It looks like the Mavs aren’t going after Chris Bosh this summer. Nothing to see here, which is a shame. I enjoyed the idea of Bosh coming back home and to be the next big star in Dallas. But alas, the Mavs don’t see him as someone to complement Dirk Nowitzki in the frontcourt.

But never fear, Mavs fans. Carmelo Anthony is on the way … ?

Wait, what?

Yes, the intrigue strikes for the third year in a row: A big-time free agent has interest in the Mavs, and the Mavs (as they have since the dawn of time) have an interest in a big-time free agent.

Enter ‘Melo.

First of all, I’m well aware that if you put Carmelo on a team featuring Dirk and Monta Ellis, your defense will give up 145 points per game. The same could’ve been said about bringing Bosh to pair with Dirk. How much worse can this defense get?

At this point, you’re willing to risk that if you’re going to score more with the three of them on the floor at the same time.

The Dallas Mavericks need to find some way (whether through kidnapping or mind control) to bring Carmelo Anthony to town.

I have longed for ‘Melo to come to Dallas ever since the Denver Nuggets began their never-ending quest of attempting to trade him. In fact, the Mavs were considered a dark horse to acquire Anthony in a trade in 2011, just days before he was dealt to the Knicks. But then you think about the possibilities: Could the Mavs have really won the championship against Miami with ‘Melo in the fold?

Seeing how the only thing stopping the trade was Rodrigue Beaubois, then yes. It could’ve happened.

But the Mavs won the title without him that year and everyone went home happy. Then you look at the possibility of this year: If Carmelo was in a Dallas uniform, could the Mavs have knocked off the San Antonio Spurs and still be playing basketball right now?

That answer is, without question, yes.

What better way to take the scoring load off Dirk near the end of his career then by having one of the best scorers this generation has ever seen? Not to mention, you have to account for Ellis’ scoring ability and Dirk’s mid-range game.

First thing’s first, though: ‘Melo needs to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Knicks before we start kicking the tires of this insane possibility. Then there’s figuring out what to do with the expiring contracts, mainly Vince Carter and Shawn Marion. And what about the Mavs trading for either Larry Sanders or Tyson Chandler?

All of those questions need to be answered.

But for now, count me on the Melo-to-Dallas bandwagon. It needs to happen for the long-term future of the franchise, as well as the short term.

Seeing as how this may be the Mavs’ last chance to get a big name in free agency, might as well go down swinging.

You can find Danny Webster on Twitter @DannyWebster21.