The Dallas Mavericks have acquired 26-year old shooting guard Rudy Fernandez along with the rights to SG/PG Petteri Koponen, who was drafted by the Blazers in 2007 for essentially both of the Mavericks’ draft picks.  Those picks were forward Jordan Hamilton out of Texas (he was dealt to the Denver Nuggets) and forward Tanguy Ngombo (he was dealt to the Blazers).  Fernandez played in 78 games (3 starts) for the Trailblazers last year and he averaged 23.3 minutes, 8.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  He has now played in 218 games (9 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he averaged 24.1 minutes, 9.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  This was a good deal for the Mavericks as Fernandez should be able to help them right away, while Hamilton and Ngombo were going to take a little while to be ready to help the team.  As part of this deal, the Blazers dealt a future second round pick to the Nuggets along with point guard Andre Miller for point guard Raymond Felton.

With Tyson Chandler a free agent, I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see the Mavericks spend a pick on a center on Thursday Night.  The Mavericks own the #26 and #57 picks in Thursday’s NBA Draft.  If center Jordan Williams is available at #26, I see the Mavericks  seriously considering taking him.  I also think that SG LaceDarius Dunn out of Baylor will be considered.  The Mavericks will likely take the best available player with the 57th overall pick.

The Dallas Mavericks will have some tough decisions to make this summer as they have six unrestricted free agents coming into this off-season.  Center Tyson Chandler, PG J.J. Barea and SF Caron Butler are the three guys the Mavericks will likely try to go all out to retain.  It won’t be easy as they are around the top of the class at their positions in free agency.  DeShawn Stevenson, Peja Stojakovic and Brian Cardinal are also free agents this summer.  I don’t see the Mavericks paying any of those guys big money.  I think the Mavericks would bring Stevenson, Stojakovic or Cardinal back, but only at the team’s price.

51-year old head coach Rick Carlisle just seems to be getting better as a NBA head coach.  Carlisle outcoached Erik Spoelstra pretty badly in the NBA Finals.  Carlisle led the Mavericks to a 57-25 (69.5%) record during the regular season and a 16-5 record (76.2%) in the NBA Playoffs.  He got his first NBA Title in 9 years as a head coach.  Carlisle now has a 162-84 (65.9%) record during the regular season and a 23-14 record (62.2%) in the playoffs.  Carlisle now has a 443-295 (60%) record in his 9 years as a NBA head coach and he is 53-46 (53.5) in the playoffs.  Carlisle’s teams have had at least a .500 record and they have also made the NBA Playoffs in 8 of his 9 years as a head coach.  The Mavericks definitely have the right man in charge.

32-year old power forward Dirk Nowitzki had a rough shooting night in Game #6 but he was still the MVP of the Dallas Mavericks.  Nowitzki played in 6 games (all starts) in the NBA Finals and he averaged 40.3 minutes, 26.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.  He shot 41.6% from the floor, 36.8% from three point range and 97.8% from the free throw line in the NBA Finals.  Nowitzki played in 21 games (all starts) for the Mavericks in the playoffs and he averaged 39.3 minutes, 27.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

38-year old Jason Kidd is one of the best point guards in NBA history but a championship ring has eluded him.  He lost in the NBA Finals a couple of times with the New Jersey Nets earlier in his career.  But, despite not having great counting numbers, Kidd was a key to the Mavs’ win in this series due to his defense.  Kidd played in 6 games (all starts) in the NBA Finals and he averaged 37.3 minutes, 7.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  Kidd also shot well from three point range hitting 12 of 28 (42.9%) from behind the arc.  Kidd played in 21 games (all starts) in the playoffs for the Mavericks and he averaged 35.4 minutes, 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game.  Kidd finally gets a ring and it was well deserved.

Dirk Nowitzki had a rough first half last night, but it was no problem as Jason Terry picked up the slack.  He was outstanding in the NBA Finals for the Mavericks.  Terry played in 6 games (0 starts) for the Mavericks in the NBA Finals and he averaged 32.5 minutes, 18.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game.  Terry shot 49.4% from the floor, 39.3% from three point range and 75% from the free throw line in the NBA Finals.  Terry played in 21 games (0 starts) in the playoffs for the Mavericks and he averaged 32.6 minutes, 17.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  Terry was a second solid offensive force for the Mavericks behind Dirk Nowitzki in the playoffs, and he was a big key in the Mavs winning their first NBA Championship.

The Mavericks shot 50% from the floor last night and it was the big reason for the win over Miami.  Jason Terry led the way for the Mavericks last night with 27 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in 34 minutes on the floor.  He shot 11 of 16 from the floor as he carried the offense last night.  Dirk Nowitzki only shot 9 of 27 from the floor but he still finished up with 21 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals.  J.J. Barea (15 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals) and Shawn Marion (12 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal) also had very solid games for the Mavericks last night.  The Mavericks are the NBA Champions as they dumped the Heat 4-2.  It was amazing watching the Mavericks celebrate with class on Miami’s basketball court last night.

The Mavericks were red hot shooting the ball last night as they hit 56.5% from the floor and they also shot 68.4% (13 for 19) from three point range and that’s why they won last night.  Dirk Nowitzki (29 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal) and Jason Terry (21 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists in 30 minutes on the floor) led the way for the Mavericks last night.  J.J. Barea really stepped up for the Mavericks too last night with 17 points, 2 rebounds and 5 assists in 26 minutes on the floor.  Tyson Chandler (13 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocked shots) and Jason Kidd (13 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 1 blocked shot) also pitched in with solid games for the Mavericks last night.  The Mavericks are up 3-2 in this series with the rest of the games in Miami.

32-year old power forward Dirk Nowitzki is trying to will his team to greatness, and he’s doing a outstanding job of it.  He has played in 4 games in the NBA Finals and he is averaging 40.8 minutes, 26.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game.  Nowitzki has now played in 19 games (all starts) so far in the playoffs and he is averaging 39.3 minutes, 28.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.