FORT WORTH, Texas — Admittedly, this is not the old Shawn Marion, the one that the Dallas Mavericks never could stop, the Marion that always seemed to supply the perfect punctuation to whatever Steve Nash was handing out.

This new Marion, we are told, is older, maybe even humbler, and wise enough to realize now that the grass isn’t always greener, unless you like to stand around and watch Dwyane Wade shoot.
Well, we’ll see. Until then, Thursday’s four-team deal seems more gutty than it does anything else.
On paper, the pieces seem to fit the Mavericks well. The acquisition of Marion gives them a dynamic scoring option, plus an immediate upgrade to the team’s rebounding prowess.
But he is 31 years old. So let’s can all the snickers about the San Antonio Spurs getting their AARP cards.
And refresh my memory. Isn’t this the same Marion that bellyached his way out of Phoenix because he wasn’t getting respected — at $17 million per season?
He’s going to want the basketball, and I’m sort of wondering how that’s going to work out. On one hand, he will be dutifully served by the NBA’s wisest old table-setter, Jason Kidd.
On the other hand, at the end of the game, the Mavericks don’t need another guy with his toes parked at the 3-point arc, whistling for someone to throw him the ball.
Or maybe they do.
Remember that self-proclaimed Mavericks team chemistry, the golden stuff that enabled them to rebound from a 2-7 start last season and go on to win 50 games?
They just rewired the chemistry lab. Maybe, though, Marion will fall under the spell of the genial Dirk Nowitzki and opt for being a loyal sidekick. Maybe, at age 31, Marion might just want to win a ring and make new friends.
Overall I like the deal. I like the fact that, when faced with daily news blurbs about the rest of the conference getting better, the Mavericks responded with bluster.
A week ago I was ready to chide general manager Donnie Nelson for sleeping through yet another NBA Draft. Today I can only applaud him for boldly spending the team’s Jerry Stackhouse “chip.”
Oh, those Nelsons.
This can’t possibly be Donnie’s final move of the summer, either. Is a big trade in the offing, perhaps, of somebody we’re not really expecting?
Let’s take the roll. In Marcin Gortat, the Mavericks now have someone who can perform the vital task of keeping incumbent center Erick Dampier off the floor. Nathan Jawai, acquired Thursday, adds rare depth.
Strength comes in numbers. In Gortat and Jawai, the Mavericks might well have Dampier’s successor — or they could simply represent 12 more fouls to give. Both interpretations are well worth the dice roll.
With the acquisition of Marion, the team’s rebounding and defense should get better. But it’s the additional offensive options that coach Rick Carlisle will have that make the deal seem even better.
If Carlisle wants to go with a small lineup, we could see Kidd, Jason Terry, Josh Howard, Marion and Nowitzki on the floor. Which one are you double-teaming?
The question might be raised of whether the Mavericks overpaid Marion by offering a reported five-year, $39 million contract. His play will answer that.
But here’s something I haven’t understood all summer: Why all the complaining about Kidd’s and now Marion’s contracts?
Marion earned $17.8 million last season, the 13th-highest contract in the NBA. You can’t just slash his salary to the bone and then expect the player to go out, play hard, and bring home a championship.
The same goes for Kidd, who will be taking a reported $13 million pay cut to remain with the Mavericks.
They likely could have squeezed more out of him and re-signed the point guard for even less. But that wouldn’t be fair to Kidd, not if you expect him to lead your team into the playoffs.
The true price of the Mavericks’ off-season thus far is that Nelson and owner Mark Cuban altered the team dramatically, and yet didn’t have to give away one significant player. OK, maybe Brandon Bass.
Plus, with Dampier’s expiring contract, Cuban and Nelson have positioned the Mavericks to be prominent players in next year’s attractive free-agent market.
Therein lies the clever element of this week’s deals. The Mavericks still have options.
And silly me. I thought Nelson was sleeping.