Depth Chart: Small Forward

The artist formerly known as The Matrix

I was prepared to come on here and discuss the many small forwads the Dallas Mavericks have on their current, pre-season roster.

Then I realized they don't have any. Really. Yes, there are guys who will take the court as the No. 3 -- the transition from shooting guard to power forward. The lynchpin between the frontcourt and backcourt.

Shawn Marion, I guess, is the small forward. I guess. Caron Butler could go here, too, although I think he's more of a shooting guard. I think the Mavericks start most games with a Jason Kidd-Butler-Marion-Dirk Nowitzki-Brendan Haywood line-up.

However, as Marion's game has continuously dropped off over the past four seasons, there was talk that Marion would be moved to the bench. That'd mean Butler would move to small forward and someone else would play shooting guard.

I don't know who this someone else is. I seriously doubt -- no matter how good of an idea it is -- that Rick Carlisle would want Roddy Beaubois or rookie Dominique Jones at the two-guard. Add in that Marion, traditionally, has been a smaller power forward.

No matter how you slice it, it's a conundrum. On one hand the Mavericks are very thin at small forward. On the other hand, they're very small and lacking any real defensive stopper at the two-guard if you consider Jason Terry, Beaubois, Jones, Jason Kidd and J.J. Barea as options there.

This is going to test Rick Carlisle. Maybe it's why he fainted. Juggling these two spots and getting the right two guys in there is going to be tough.

The wildcard here is Brian Cardinal. I think the dude sucks, but it would not shock me in the least to watch the Mavericks keep this guy. He's a 6-8 forward, who turned a decent 2003-04 season (10 points, four rebounds per) into a nice contract with Memphis the next season. Since, he's been a marginal bench player, playing a third of the season and getting, maybe, 10 minutes a game with Memphis and Minnesota, two breadwinners there.

Another option in camp is Steve Novak, the 6-10 sharpshooter out of Marquette, who's as white as rice, but shoots the three-ball like a madman. He's a bit big and I doubt he gets on the floor unless you need a three pointer, but he's a body.

I can't believe I'm talking about Cardinal and Novak as if they are contributors on a good basketball team.