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NBA: Predictions For The Southwest Division In 2016-17

By Carter Johnson

Dec 3, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) drives against San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) drives against San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 28, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) shoots the ball as San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (right) defends during the second half at AT&T Center. The Spurs won 101-100. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) shoots the ball as San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (right) defends during the second half at AT&T Center. The Spurs won 101-100. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Dallas Mavericks

2015-16 Record: 42-40 (T-2nd in Southwest Division) 

2016-17 Prediction: 40-42 (3rd in Southwest Division) 

Another year, another unsuccessful free agency for the Dallas Mavericks.

Mark Cuban and company went into free agency with two primary targets in center Hassan Whiteside and point guard Mike Conley Jr. — and lost out on both of them in the first day of free agency.

Luckily, the Mavs landed two fairly solid contributors in the Kevin Durant to Golden State fallout, re-signed some key players from last season and had enough money left over to do something they should’ve done a long time ago: give Dirk Nowitzki a Kobe Bryant-like deal to finish his career in Dallas.

While this Mavericks team is not nearly as bad as the one Bryant was given to work with his last two years in the league, it’s still a roster that has a lot of questions surrounding it.

Their biggest free agency signing was Harrison Barnes, who despite being a solid piece in a championship core, hasn’t really shown any signs that he can become the go-to scorer that Cuban believes he can be.

Andrew Bogut has dealt with numerous injuries that were masked behind that same great championship and record-breaking team, while the re-signed Deron Williams is far removed from his days of stardom and is a rather inconsistent contributor, fluctuating from dominance to passiveness on a night-to-night basis.

Newly acquired role players like Seth Curry and Quincy Acy have shown flashes of brilliance, but not enough for fans or critics to believe it will happen consistently this season.

Nowitzki has withstood the test of time so far and has managed to stay productive, but he’s not enough to make this a winning squad anymore and, unfortunately, they didn’t really add anybody that makes them any better than they were last year.

The coaching prowess of Rick Carlisle along with the solid play of veteran role players like J.J. Barea and Devin Harris alongside Nowitzki and fairly consistent wings in Barnes and Wesley Matthews is enough to make this squad a 40-win team, in addition to the fact that they have a wealth of talented young players like Justin Anderson, Dwight Powell and rookie A.J. Hammons.

The Mavs will once again win 40 games, but it may be a struggle for them to earn a playoff spot in a Western Conference that is growing more competitive by the minute.

Next: No. 2