NBA Power Rankings: 2014-15 Western Conference Projections

5.  Dallas Mavericks — 54-28

Hardest month:  March  (.574)

Weakest month:  November  (.436)

Back-to-backs:  17

Of any playoff team out West, Mark Cuban’s Mavericks have suffered the biggest shakeup.  Departing is Shawn Marion, who would like to ride in LeBron’s backseat to his second championship ring.  In addition, they chose to trade their knockdown shooter of a point guard in Jose Calderon, trying to grab Tyson Chandler in return to help their defensive state.

The baggage of the trade was undoubtedly Raymond Felton, who may rarely see the floor now with a backcourt infested with Jameer Nelson, Monta Ellis, and Devin Harris, but at least he’s under a coach that will discipline him and teach him the right path.  Rick Carlisle has been underrated for years, but his offensive game plans and knowledge of how to use rotations properly is second to only Gregg Popovich.  The Coach of the Year award will be handed to him in April, depending on how impressive Chicago looks out East.

Cuban and Dirk Nowitzki should be given a trophy regardless of their seeding and playoff finish next season, solely because of the masterful contract negotiations they worked through.  Re-signing the greatest European player in NBA history for less than $10 million per season only speaks to the class of the Mavericks.  Dirk already knows the organization respects him, as he’s been treated with talented teammates through the years that helped him claim a title in 2011, and nearly 2006.  He knows better than anyone, though, that a business plan is in place and he’ll play at age 36 next season, with the same scoring load.

Another steal was luring Chandler Parsons away from Houston, where they failed to give him as much credit as he deserved.  They waited around for too many chips to fall in place, and let him slip out of their fingers.  Parsons immediately takes the ball out of the hands of Ellis and the backcourt more, thus making them better players off the ball.  If Carlisle wants to use Parsons as a spot-up shooter in some sets, his team history indicates he’ll be worth trusting taking deep shots down the stretch of a game.

Richard Jefferson finally heads back to a contender, and he shouldn’t put any doubt into your mind.  The loaded frontcourt mix of Parsons, Jefferson, Al-Farouq Aminu, Jae Crowder, and Brandon Wright illustrates exactly why they’ll be fresh enough to increase their win total by five games — there’s plenty of bodies to experiment with and limit the minutes of their veterans.

They won’t get the credit since they’ve made just two Finals appearances of the Dirk era (1998-present), but you’re looking at a first-class franchise that handles their roster better than nearly everyone.  Cuban will fire up a cigar to that one.