The band's breaking up

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Butler, gone

If everything we read on the Internet is true, the Dallas Mavericks -- those world champions -- will not look the same as they did a year ago.

The big news is a report that Tyson Chandler has nearly agreed to a deal with the New York Knicks. I think it's safe to assume that the Knicks went after Chandler as a means of getting Chris Paul, who's publicly stated he wants to play with his former teammate. The idea being the Knicks swap Amare Stoudemire to New Orleans for Paul.

Another Mavericks free agent -- Caron Butler -- has agree to a three-year, $24 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. According to reports, Butler had four-year deals from San Antonio and New Jersey totaling $21 million and $30 million. He said he wanted to play with Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin. Making $8 million a year probably didn't hurt.

For me, no love lost here. Never liked Butler's game. Ran entirely too hot and cold. Is not a No. 2 option on a team, his defense is not as good as it used to be and he's just a big jump shooter at this point. It's no accident the Mavericks won a championship without him.

That leaves J.J. Barea the only notable free agent left from the 2010-11 team. At this point, I can see them throwing a little cash his way.

Otherwise, the rumor mill around Maverick central is dead quiet. By all accounts, management is prepared to whittle down the payroll and take a huge gamble at getting Deron Williams or Dwight Howard in a year. Huge. Gamble.

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