The Dallas Mavericks are a candidate to get the best offseason grades so far. The Western Conference was mad competitive and the Mavericks were good enough for just an eighth seed. They failed (again) to nab the top free agents but they seem to have a good contingency plan implemented.

While the Mavericks were poised to make proposals for the big fish (Carmelo Anthony and eventually LeBron James), they had a more realistic approach this time (read: not desperate). Even before the off-season began, they addressed an important team need by re-acquiring Tyson Chandler, who was 2012's Defensive Player of the Year.

They had a back-up plan in their intention to acquire a big time scorer (like Carmelo Anthony) and they got that by nabbing Chandler Parsons. Parsons was one of the best shooters in the NBA last year who did not become a liability in other aspects of the game. The Mavericks can preserve their run-and-gun game by getting a solid rebounder and a skilled finisher.

The offseason grades from Grantland:

"Everything Dallas did seems like it makes more sense on paper than it does in real life. Taking a chance on Tyson Chandler? Sure, seems smart enough. Re-signing Dirk Nowitzki for $8 million a year? Paying $15 million a season to Parsons, stealing a crucial piece from a conference rival? Great job."

They only get a passing score because of doubts on whether the roster will actually work on the court. These were the same doubts that 'analytics' had when they took Monta Ellis, and that turned out well.

Sheridan Hoops gave them the top grades for Western teams, but it depends on what the Minnesota Timberwolves can get for Kevin Love:

"I like what the Mavericks have done by bringing back Tyson Chandler to shore up their weakest position and by getting Chandler Parsons when the Rockets refused to match, defying logic. That's why sometimes you have to roll the dice in going after a restricted free agent."

Of course, the Spurs are standing pat on top of the league and they already accomplished their offseason agenda: to keep their own free agents. But remember, Dallas took them all the way to Game 7 in their first round match-up.

The Houston-Dallas rivalry will gain some color because of Parsons, and the Rockets also lost Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik in the course of their ambitious pursuit. It remains to be seen who else they're going after aside from Trevor Ariza-Parsons' older replacement on the Rockets. Texas will probably have all three teams in the playoffs again, and it will be exciting!