AROUND the NBA:

[mvossman]

The best teams in the league have cores that have been together for years. OKC, SA, Boston. To a lesser degree the Cavs. And it took years to build those teams. That's the level the Mavs need to reach if they ever want to get back into the championship conversation.
As far as roster building goes what you are describing has basically been the post 2011 Dirk-lead Mavs approach. Dirk and an ever changing list of solid veterans. Enough to make the playoffs. Not enough for a deep playoff run. I guess the play-in made the treadmill status more enjoyable but there is no real upside to it.

The same can be said for the Nuggets and Bucks (and obviously the Warriors).  Basically every NBA champion for the last many years has followed the same formula.  Start with an Elite creator, build a core around that creator that play multiple years together, and in most cases add a final piece (or two) in the year they win it.

The Mavs have done the hardest part.  They have their elite creator.  The next step is to build the core.  I'm not sure any member of the current roster will end up being part of that core.  I still have hope for Lively.  Kyrie will probably be in his late 30s before this team is ready to contend.  They desperately need this coming draft pick to be part of that core.  I am hoping they can turn some combination of PJ/Naji/Gafford (plus assets) into another part of the core.  I think its going to be a process and they are in the early stages.  It will definitely require patience.