like you mention, is sometimes in the running for big name free agents, which makes Dallas fans always feel like it could happen, only to be let down time and time again. Utah understands it's not attracting the star player, so we don't get overly excited or worried about it. We understand our place in the League and what we have to do to compete (i.e., build using the draft, trades, and role playing free agents). The thing is, Dallas has to do the exact same thing as Utah to compete. And in both cases, the only reason the teams have had a period in their franchise history where they DID compete on a consistent basis was because they lucked out in drafting a future HOFer (or HOFers in the case of the Jazz) outside of the top of the draft.

And so while Dallas fans keep wanting/hoping/expecting that their day will finally come where an elite free agent actually signs with them, until that happens, they are really in about the same place as the Jazz. Of course, Dallas got the title that eluded the Jazz, but outside of that (and I understand that winning that title was huge for Dallas), Utah's playoff history is actually more impressive than Dallas'. Utah has been to the playoffs 25 times to Dallas' 20 and the Jazz have been to the Western Conference Finals 6 times to Dallas' 4. They've been to the Finals twice each. And of course, Dallas has that one championship, which ultimately gives them the overall edge.

All I'm saying is that until Dallas actually lands that big fish free agent, they are really no different than the Jazz.