NBA: 10 Best Frontcourts In the League

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NBA – Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) watches the game from the bench during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the American Airlines Center. The Thunder defeated the Mavericks 118-109. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

4) Dallas Mavericks

Tyson Chandler, Dirk Nowitzki, Chandler Parsons

Expectations for the 2014-2015 Dallas Mavericks vary wildly, and most of that flexibility is based on the unknown that is Tyson Chandler. Now 32 years old, Chandler took a violent step back in terms of on-court performance last year while with the New York Knicks, to the point where his normally dominant defense was quite pedestrian, and it appeared that he checked out entirely. The good news is that Chandler is now reunited with both Dirk Nowitzki and Rick Carlisle in Dallas, and the last time that trio played together resulted in an NBA championship. I am a believer in Chandler as a role player who will be efficient offensively (career 58.4% FG) and occasionally dominant on the glass and in rim protection, and that is all that the Mavericks need him to be.

Chandler was not the only off-season addition for the Mavs, as Dallas also inked former Houston Rockets forward Chandler Parsons to a massive, three-year contract. The 6-foot-9 Parsons brings an interesting dimension to the table for Dallas, as he is quite effective in creating offense for others, and he is immediately the second-best offensive player on this team. However, Parsons has been ridiculed for his defense at times, and with the backcourt in some peril, the former Florida Gator will need to earn his $15 million per season.

Of course, everything in Dallas begins and ends with Dirk Nowitzki. Dirk is one of the more revered players in the entire NBA, and at the age of 36, there is little decline in his game. In fact, Nowitzki was incredible last season, averaging 21.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in only 32.9 minutes, and he remains the game’s best bet for a season in which he tops 50% from the field, 40% from 3-point range and 90% from the free throw line. Ideally, the Mavericks would like to lessen the load on Dirk from a creation standpoint, and that was likely the impetus for the Parsons signing, but Dallas is at their best when everything runs through Nowitzki, and unless he falls off considerably, he’ll have the Mavs in the thick of the West playoff race.

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