Mavs face tough decisions this summer

I know they were just eliminated from the NBA playoffs, but the Dallas Mavericks have some tough decisions to make this summer.

Don't know if we'll address this topic on "Sports Clips" or not, but thought I would go ahead and post my thoughts.

(1.) Jason Kidd is officially a free agent ... a 36-year-old free agent who has clearly seen his better days. He's still a leader, he still can come up with a big game now and then, but the Mavs need to get younger and more athletic at the point guard position. It pains me to say it, but let Kidd walk.

(2.) Eric Dampier (pictured) is just a big body who doesn't move that well and, most of the time, appears lazy on defense. He can't score, he rebounds when he's in the mood and rarely defends the basket. ANYONE would be an upgrade at the post position. ANYONE!!!! Please!!!!

(3.) Is Josh Howard one of the "untouchables" on this team? Will he ever help the Mavs win an NBA title? Or is he a head case that can score 25 and pull down 12 rebounds one night and then disappear the next? He showed a little toughness this season playing on two bad ankles in the Denver series, but you never know what kind of effort you're going to get from him. (Is he still smokin' weed during the season?) He has one more year left on his contract, but I'd love for the Mavs to move him this summer and get a more physical player who is not afraid to mix it up and is a tough defender. This team needs to get tougher! This team needs to play a lot better defense!

I'm all for keeping Dirk as the centerpiece of the franchise ... and keeping Jason Terry as a spark off the bench ... but everyone else is expendable.

O.K. ... there's my "wish list" for the Mavs this summer. Will Cuban have the guts to pull the trigger and make the moves to improve this team? Or will he only make conservative moves and hope this team improves in '09-'10?

Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

----------------------------------------------

Picture of Eric Dampier is an ESPN photo