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We're about to find out how much faith Avery Johnson has in his team.

We're about to discover if the Mavericks will keep their heads about them while all others are trading theirs.

The Mavericks say they will. Management declares it's not looking to break up the nucleus as the trade deadline looms.

Robert Sarver made the same comment. The owner of the Phoenix Suns said he "flat out" would not move a member of the team's core. General manager Steve Kerr backed him by espousing the virtues of continuity.

Less than three weeks later, the Suns trade Shawn Marion to Miami for Shaquille O'Neal. That came on the heels of the Lakers' acquisition of Pau Gasol. San Antonio has added Damon Stoudamire to its rotation, a small move that could pay big dividends for a team that thrives on details. Utah has taken off since trading for Kyle Korver.

The Mavericks have done nothing other than struggle to win on the road and run its offense in the absence of Devin Harris. You get the sense that something is not quite right about this team, that it needs a spark.

How can the Mavericks not jump into this trading frenzy in the Western Conference? How can the Mavericks be convinced it has a championship-caliber team when it has never won a championship?

"We evaluate and we never overreact to what other people are doing," Johnson said. "Sometimes when guys are deleted off other teams, some we are actually glad to see go. With our league, some teams add, some subtract.

"We like our team as we move forward."

It will be tougher for the Mavericks to pull off a major deal than it was for the Lakers or Suns. Look at what LA gave up for Gasol.

OK, bad example. The Lakers didn't give up anything.

The Suns had to part with an All-Star forward for O'Neal. But Marion is an older player with a big contract who asked to be traded, whined about his role and can opt out at the end of this season.

The Mavericks don't have anyone who fits that profile. Their best players after Dirk Nowitzki are young, signed to reasonable contracts and seem to get along.

When Harris' name was linked to trade speculation involving New Jersey's Jason Kidd last week, no one from the organization called to tell him not to worry about it.

"Like everybody else," Harris said, "I'm just a spectator in the madness."

The Mavericks did talk to the Nets and Portland about a three-team deal. How could they not? This is Jason Kidd.

But how much better are the Mavericks if they give up their quickest player and best perimeter defender for Kidd? What sort of return could the Mavericks expect from Kidd next season after he's turned 35 and will have spent a summer playing in the Olympics?

With Gasol in LA, O'Neal in Phoenix and Tim Duncan in San Antonio, can the Mavs afford to let go of DeSagana Diop? That puts a lot of pressure on Erick Dampier.

Donnie Nelson echoes Johnson's stance. The president of basketball operations said they like this team and aren't looking for reasons to tear it up and change.

"If you start doing that and reacting to what other people are doing or their way of thinking, I just think you're setting yourself up for failure," Nelson said. "We're interested in the Mavs and what we do here, not the 29 other teams."

Nelson, Johnson and owner Mark Cuban view themselves as custodians of the franchise. They are responsible for the present and the future of the organization.

"It's about being competitive at a championship caliber in the here and now and avoid what is happening in Miami," Nelson said. "It's a very, very delicate line.

"We need to take advantage of the window we have here. At the same time, you don't want to make a decision that is going to strap the franchise for the foreseeable future.

"We will not leverage the future for a quick fix. We've come too far."

The next few months will show how much farther they can go.

It will show if this is the right approach.