The Mavs have announced their 03-04 pre-season and regular season schedule. I've included the full schedule at the end. Dallas signed rookie free agent Marquis Daniels to a 1 year, minimum contract. It's a non-guaranteed contract and he will have to earn a roster spot during training camp. Daniels performed well enough during the summer league to get the Mavs' interest. He played shooting guard in college, but the Mavs are asking him to play point. From the 2 summer league games that I saw, he showed flashes, but needs to work on his ball handling and not doing so much one-on-one. And that's the only summer move the Mavs have made so far. They've had lots of talks and their hands in a lot of things, but nothing has come to fruition. The early focus was on Alonzo Mourning, but he opted to stay in the East and signed with New Jersey. And once Mourning, Karl Malone (who the Lakers locked up while Dallas was courting Mourning), and P.J. Brown (who New Orleans over-paid to keep) were off the market, I was glad that Dallas was unable to get one of the big men left as those left weren't much talent, attitude problems (in that don't have a true dedication to the game), way over-priced, and/or not worth what would have to be given up in a sign-and-trade. The Mavs will probably make a couple of minor additions before training camp, but I don't think (hope) that a major trade will come down. I have yet to hear a rumor (unless Miami is really foolish enough to give up Brian Grant for junk) that, IMO, is worth what Dallas would give up in return. The Mavs should _definitely_ keep the big 3 together and I have yet to hear a rumor regarding Nick Van Exel that I consider worth loosing him. Remember that despite all the griping about Dallas doing almost nothing last summer, the team did win 60 games and go far in the playoffs. I've felt that this should be done, but haven't felt strongly about it enough to make a campaign of it - until this summer. After watching 2 of the summer league games with Brandon Williams playing for the Mavs and wearing #12, it was just _wrong_ to see a player in a Mavs uni with #12 and it not being Derek Harper. It's time to raise #12 to the rafters. No other Mav has ever worn #12 and none should. Myth: There have been some reports that included the notion that because of the contracts of Raef LaFrentz ($8,178,750), Shawn Bradley ($3,500,000), and/or Evan Eschmeyer ($2,800,000) Dallas has no salary cap room. That notion is false. Dallas is over the salary cap ($43.84 million) with just the contracts of Michael Finley ($13,281,250), Nick Van Exel ($11,956,625), Dirk Nowitzki ($11,326,219), and any 2 of Tariq Abdul-Wahad ($6,187,500), Steve Nash ($5,750,000), Avery Johnson ($5,445,600), and Eduardo Najera ($3,428,572). Even without LaFrentz's, Bradley's, and Eschmeyer's contracts Dallas would still be way over the salary cap and wouldn't have any more free agent money. My September trip to the Alps is on (yes!), so if anyone has any suggestions on things to do - especially some good day hikes - in the Alps in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, I'd be interested in hearing them. Neuschwanstein Castle is the first stop on the trip. I don't think I'll be making it to Dirk's hometown, though. :) patricia ---- 2003-2004 Dallas Mavericks schedule All Times Central All games are broadcast on 103.3 FM ESPN and 1270 AM KESS (Spanish) Pre-season [pre-season games are not broadcast on TV, but are on the radio] October Saturday Oct 5 Utah 5:00 in Mexico City NBATV Tuesday Oct 7 Orlando 7:30 Saturday Oct 11 New Orleans 7:30 Tuesday Oct 14 @ LA Clippers 9:30 Saturday Oct 18 Philadelphia 7:30 Sunday Oct 19 @ San Antonio 6:00 Tuesday Oct 21 Uta 7:30 Wednesday Oct 22 @ Sacramento 9:00 Regular Season October Tuesday Oct 28 @ LA Lakers 9:30 TNT Wednesday Oct 29 @ Golden State 9:30 November Saturday Nov 1 Utah 7:30 Monday Nov 3 Miami 7:30 Wednesday Nov 5 @ Washington 6:00 Thursday Nov 6 @ Toronto 7:00 Saturday Nov 8 @ San Antonio 7:30 Tuesday Nov 11 New Orleans 7:30 Thursday Nov 13 Houston 6:30 TNT Saturday Nov 15 @ Memphis 7:00 Monday Nov 17 Portland 7:30 Thursday Nov 20 San Antonio 6:30 TNT Saturday Nov 22 Denver 7:30 Tuesday Nov 25 Chicago 7:30 Wednesday Nov 26 @ Phoenix 8:00 Friday Nov 28 @ Denver 8:00 Saturday Nov 29 Minnesota 7:30 December Tuesday Dec 2 Washington 7:30 Thursday Dec 4 LA Lakers 8:30 TNT Saturday Dec 6 Orlando 7:30 Wednesday Dec 10 @ LA Clippers 9:30 Friday Dec 12 @ LA Lakers 9:30 ESPN Monday Dec 15 Toronto 7:30 Wednesday Dec 17 @ Boston 7:00 ESPN Thursday Dec 18 @ Minnesota 6:30 TNT Saturday Dec 20 LA Clippers 7:30 Tuesday Dec 23 @ Portland 9:00 Thursday Dec 25 @ Sacramento 5:00 ABC Saturday Dec 27 Memphis 7:30 Tuesday Dec 30 Milwaukee 7:30 January Friday Jan 2 @ Milwaukee 7:30 Saturday Jan 3 Minnesota 7:30 Monday Jan 5 @ Utah 8:00 Wednesday Jan 7 Golden State 8:00 ESPN Friday Jan 9 Indiana 7:00 ESPN2 Sunday Jan 11 @ Detroit 5:00 Monday Jan 12 @ New York 6:30 Wednesday Jan 14 Philadelphia 8:00 ESPN2 Friday Jan 16 @ Denver 8:00 Saturday Jan 17 @ Portland 9:00 Tuesday Jan 20 New Jersey 7:30 Thursday Jan 22 LA Lakers 8:30 TNT Friday Jan 23 @ Chicago 7:30 Sunday Jan 25 Sacramento 12:00 ABC Tuesday Jan 27 @ Seattle 9:00 Wednesday Jan 28 @ Utah 8:00 Saturday Jan 31 Denver 12:00 Telemundo February Tuesday Feb 3 Golden State 7:30 Wednesday Feb 4 @ New Orleans 7:00 Saturday Feb 7 Detroit 7:30 Monday Feb 9 @ Atlanta 6:30 Tuesday Feb 10 New York 7:30 Sunday Feb 15 All-Star Game @ Los Angeles Tuesday Feb 17 @ Memphis 7:00 Wednesday Feb 18 @ Cleveland 6:00 Saturday Feb 21 Houston 7:30 Tuesday Feb 24 LA Clippers 7:30 Thursday Feb 26 San Antonio 7:00 TNT Saturday Feb 28 Portland 7:30 March Tuesday Mar 2 Seattle 7:30 Wednesday Mar 3 @ Minnesota 7:00 Friday Mar 5 @ San Antonio 7:00 ESPN Sunday Mar 7 @ Houston 12:00 ABC Monday Mar 8 Phoenix 7:30 Thursday Mar 11 @ Sacramento 9:00 TNT Saturday Mar 13 @ Phoenix 8:00 Sunday Mar 14 @ LA Clippers 9:30 Wednesday Mar 17 Atlanta 7:30 Friday Mar 19 Boston 7:00 ESPN Sunday Mar 21 @ New Jersey 12:30 ABC Monday Mar 22 @ Philadelphia 6:00 Wednesday Mar 24 @ Indiana 7:00 ESPN Friday Mar 26 @ Miami 6:30 Sunday Mar 28 @ Orlando 12:30 ABC Tuesday Mar 30 Cleveland 7:30 April Tuesday Apr 1 Sacramento 7:00 TNT Saturday Apr 3 Phoenix 7:30 Tuesday Apr 6 Seattle 7:30 Thursday Apr 8 Utah 7:30 Saturday Apr 10 @ Seattle 2:30 Sunday Apr 11 @ Golden State 8:00 Tuesday Apr 13 Memphis 7:30 Wednesday Apr 14 @ Houston 8:30 ESPN