Editing Dallas Mavericks (section)

====2011–2013: Post-championship struggles and later absence from playoffs====
The 2011–12 season was shortened to 66 games due to a [[2011 NBA lockout|lockout]], which meant the Mavericks had to wait until [[National Basketball Association Christmas games|Christmas Day]] to raise their first championship banner. During the brief off-season, owner Mark Cuban decided to maintain financial flexibility by letting Tyson Chandler, DeShawn Stevenson, J.J. Barea, and Caron Butler go. Chandler signed with the [[New York Knicks]], Stevenson joined the [[New Jersey Nets]], Barea went to the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]], and Butler joined the [[Los Angeles Clippers]]. Meanwhile, they acquired incumbent [[NBA Sixth Man of the Year|Sixth Man of the Year]] [[Lamar Odom]] via a trade with the Lakers, while signing veterans [[Vince Carter]] and [[Delonte West]].

The Mavericks raised their championship banner before their Finals rematch with the Heat on Christmas Day. Still, in what would soon become a mirror image of the [[2006–07 Miami Heat season|2006–07 Heat]]'s eventual failed title defense, Miami blew them out in a 105–94 loss, marking Dallas's first regular season loss to Miami in eight seasons. Things did not get better for Dallas after starting the season 0–3, losing to the Thunder in a playoff rematch on December 29. As the calendar turned to 2012, the Mavericks won 14 of 18 games in January, but they posted a 22–22 record the rest of the way, eventually finishing seventh with a 36–30 record, their lowest finish since the 2007–08 season. Nowitzki produced 21.6 points, 6 rebounds, and 45.7% shooting, his most insufficient numbers since the 2000–01 season. Meanwhile, Odom, who proved to be a bad fit for the Mavericks, was deactivated for the final two months of the season.

In a rematch from the previous year, the Mavericks faced the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the [[2012 NBA playoffs]]. Games 1 and 2 went down to the wire, but the Mavericks fell short on both occasions as Kevin Durant made a game-winning jumper in Game 1, and late-game free throws in Game 2. Back in Dallas for Game 3, the Mavericks suffered a 95–79 defeat to fall behind 0–3. In Game 4, the Mavericks led for much of the second half, but [[James Harden]]'s 15-point fourth-quarter rallied the Thunder to a 103–97 win to eliminate the defending champions. It marked the first time Dallas was swept in a seven-game series. They became the third defending champion to be swept in the first round after the aforementioned 2006–07 Heat and the [[1956–57 Philadelphia Warriors season|1956–57 Philadelphia Warriors]].

During the 2012 off-season, the Mavericks lost both Jason Kidd and Jason Terry to free agency. Kidd signed with the New York Knicks, while Terry joined the [[Boston Celtics]]. Brendan Haywood was later amnestied before moving to the [[Charlotte Bobcats]]. The Mavericks acquired [[Darren Collison]] from the [[Indiana Pacers]] and signed [[O. J. Mayo]] from the [[Memphis Grizzlies]]. Also joining the team were former All-Stars [[Chris Kaman]] and [[Elton Brand]].

The [[2012–13 NBA season|2012–13 season]] was a struggle for the Mavericks, as Nowitzki recovered from knee surgery and missed 29 games. Also, Collison was inexperienced at the point, leading the Mavericks to sign veteran [[Derek Fisher]] for nine games,<ref>Sefko, Eddie, "Mavericks to sign veteran point guard Derek Fisher on Thursday", SportsDayDFW, Dallas Morning News, November 28, 2013 [http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/2012/11/mavericks-to-sign-veteran-point-guard-derek-fisher-on-thursday.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031060220/http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/2012/11/mavericks-to-sign-veteran-point-guard-derek-fisher-on-thursday.html/|date=October 31, 2014}}</ref> before settling on [[Mike James (basketball, born 1975)|Mike James]]. Mayo was the team's leading scorer for the first two months of the season before Nowitzki's return saw his averages dip. Injuries also hounded Kaman and Brand. The Mavericks were 23–29 at the All-Star break, before making a late push for a playoff berth. Still, it did not save their season, and the Mavericks missed the playoffs for the first time since 2000.