MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Last year's league MVP remains the franchise's foundation. Dirk Nowitzki led the team in scoring (23.6), rebounding (8.6) and heart. His playoff flop a year ago wasn't repeated during the season or the first round against New Orleans. If the rest of the team cared as much as Nowitzki, the Mavs would still be playing.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER
Josh Howard, hands down, takes home this (dis)honor with a selfish and confusing pattern of behavior late in the season. Not only did the one-time All-Star struggle to fit into the Jason Kidd-led offense, but his admission of marijuana use and decision to throw a birthday party after losing Game 4 puzzled/angered the coaching staff and several of his teammates.

FREE AGENT FOCUS
In need of a young and athletic swingman, the team has strong interest in unrestricted free agent Antoine Wright. Reserve point guard Jose Barea, a restricted free agent, is another team favorite. The future is more unclear for free agents Devean George, Eddie Jones (player option), Juwan Howard, Malik Allen, Jamaal Magloire and Tyronn Lue.

PLAYER NOTES

--F Dirk Nowitzki knew after two first-round exits, not to mention the Finals meltdown in 2006, a change was coming at the top. As much as he appreciated the strides made under Avery Johnson, Nowitzki acknowledged it was time for a different voice.

"In our business, it's always the coach," Nowitzki said. "You can't fire 15 players, so that's what always is going to end. Was it a time for a change? I guess. We lost this year. We didn't play up to our capabilities, so things are always going to fall back on the coach. I think he's done a great job for us and for this franchise."

--G Jason Terry realizes that no one is safe going into next season, but he still believes that the Mavs have enough to complete in a conference that should be even better next season.

"You're a little concerned, but if you look at the nucleus we have, we're not real young, but we're young enough to compete," Terry said. "The West is getting tougher, though, so we are going to have to make some improvements. What those are right now, it's too early to say. Like I said, it's going to start with trying to fill Avery Johnson's shoes."

--F Brandon Bass established himself in the league with a solid season and superb playoff run. The bruising power forward was an offseason find who figures to be a prominent part of the future.

"This was really a positive season for me," Bass said. "I just wish we could have gone farther as a unit in the playoffs and really show what we were capable of doing."

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