Donnie Nelson insists he doesn't feel a sense of urgency based on the blockbuster deals that happened around the NBA this week. That's fine. Nelson can take his time. His deadline for making a move that gets the Mavs back in the conversation about contenders is Aug. 10. That's when a decision has to be made on Jerry Stackhouse's buyout. It's an easy decision. Stack will get the $2 million buyout instead of a $7 million salary. The question is which team will write the buyout check. The $5 million of savings (plus luxury tax, depending on the team) makes Stack one of the most valuable trade chips on the market. If the Mavs can't capitalize on that to get an impact player -- and Stack might be part of a package -- then this off-season will be an epic failure. The draft was about acquiring assets that can help the Mavs down the road. The rest of the summer is about maximizing the Mavs' chances to win during Dirk's prime. That starts with two steps: 1) Re-signing Jason Kidd, which appears likely despite rumblings that the Knicks, Blazers and maybe Cavs and Lakers will try to woo him; 2) taking advantage of Stack's contract situation. Bringing Kidd back means the Mavs can be as good as last season. The Stack chip represents their opportunity to get better.