Defending a Title: The Obligatory Way-Too-Early Look at the 2011-2012 Dallas Mavericks: Forwards

Overall, the Mavericks forward situation is pretty set. While your 2011 Finals MVP probably isn't going anywhere, and Shawn Marion is signed for three more years, the contracts of both the Serbian Sniper and the Custodian, who each made a combined $2M, are up. While Donnie Nelson and Cubes can easily find other role players who can occasionally shoot open three's and hack opponents' stars in the paint, re-signing Caron Butler is one of the two biggest decisions this team will have to make in the off-season.

Butler, who turned 31 in March and made $10.5M in the final year of his contract, was arguably this team's second best player before he got hurt. While one can make the simple argument that this team and that chemisty made it the final 53 regular season games plus the playoff run without him, you just can't ignore his numbers and think that they could actually be better. While starting all 29 games and averaging 29 minutes, Real Tuff Juice averaged 15 ppg (3rd on team in reg season) and shot 43% on 3's (first among regulars in reg season), not to mention his solid defensive play. Many may forget that one of the stars of the playoff run, Marion, didn't even start because he was behind Butler at small forward. If there are cap issues and depending on how much money Butler will command during free agency, the Mavericks brass could quite conceivably believe that Marion is enough at that position.

Defending the Title: Guards