How to Improve the Mavs

It has been a tumultuous fallout in Dallas: NBA champions to being swept in the first round at the hands of the Thunder. With an aging roster and this current roster's championship window essentially closed, an overhaul will need to take place if Dirk Nowitzki's crew will make it back to last season's stage. Here's three suggestions.

1) Let Jason Terry and Jason Kidd walk (and consider O.J. Mayo and Deron Williams).

Terry is the engine that makes this team go, and Kidd remains on of the best passers in the league. But both aging players require more money than they are worth at this point. Terry's role as a spurt scorer off the bench is replaceable, and Kidd has become a liability on defense and shooting the ball (36%). O.J. Mayo is a guy who needs a change of scenery, and Dallas could be a place where he could play Robin to Dirk as a Terry replacement. And I know it is far-fetched, but all signs are saying that Deron Williams wants out of Brooklyn.

2) Take a flyer on Greg Oden.

Many of you will stop reading here. But hey, why not? Centers are at a premium and Dallas doesn't have a capable starter at the position. While Brendan Haywood is a stellar defender, 5.2 ppg won't cut it for an NBA starter. Oden will be a no-risk option: they can pay him under a million at this point, and if he ever gets healthy, he could be a double-double machine. Odds are he won't, but why not try?

3) Sign Landry Fields.

This is a guy who in New York will never have a chance to break out as long as Carmelo is there. Sure, he's friends with Jeremy Lin and all, but Fields will use his head that got him into Stanford and realize there would be an opportunity in Dallas for him far greater than the one in NYC. He's a young gun who could average 15 a game.

The Team No One's Talking About

With Jeremy Lin and the Knicks, and of course the Miami Heat and now L.A. Clippers receiving all the coverage, the 21-9 San Antonio Spurs continue to remain under the radar.

In fact, it's always been this way, save for when Tony Parker was dating Eva Longoria.

The nation, or at least ESPN, has been thrilled with the Knicks' seven-game winning streak powered by Lin, which includes all of one win over a team with a record above .500 (the Lakers). Meanwhile, San Anton has ripped off nine straight, including quality wins over the 76ers and Thunder. Unnoticed.

When you have a team with a leader as humble and professional as Tim Duncan, attention is not going to seek you out. And San Antonio isn't exactly New York when it comes to marketability. The Spurs have a veteran, collected locker room without guys demanding trades (a la Dwight Howard) or talking about returning to old teams (LeBron James), essentially producing no drama at all. Just winning basketball games.

The team aspect championship teams require certainly exists in San Antonio. Tiago Splitter and DeJuan Blair have helped to take all of the dirty work off of an aging, but still productive, Tim Duncan. Tony Parker is averaging a career high in assists (7.8) in his 11th season. Richard Jefferson, who didn't appear to have much left heading into this season, saved the day by filling in nicely when Manu Ginobili was out.

Age was supposed to be a factor for the Spurs, particularly in this condensed season. So far, it hasn't been. In fact, while a future core might not be presently on the roster, youth is definitely emerging. Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, and Gary Neal have been key pieces to this year's club, a welcoming sign to Spurs fans worried about Duncan and Ginobili's age.

Gregg Popovich's steady crew has a rocky road ahead the next nine games, including matchups with the Clippers twice, Blazers, Nuggets twice, Bulls, and Knicks. Shouldn't phase this bunch at all.