Remember when Mark Cuban would make Dallas a destination point for NBA free agents with plush towels and flat screens and a PlayStation2 for everyone?

Remember when Cuban passed on drafting the Greek Freak because he wanted Dwight Howard, only to whiff on him, too?

Remember when the Mavs signed Deron Williams and DeAndre Jordan too late to matter anymore?

Remember when summer represented high hopes for the Mavs?

Yeah, me neither.

Another free agent frenzy has essentially come and gone, and it's the same ol' same ol' for the local NBA franchise, at least as it pertains to a June wedding with a genuine star. Kevin Durant? Kawhi Leonard? Kemba Walker? Are you kidding? The Mavs couldn't even get Patrick Beverley to keep his date. I mean, stood up by Pat Beverley. At least Amazon acted interested before stiffing Dallas.

Even if you believe the Mavs are a playoff team next season as is -- a viable point at that -- you have to consider the question:

What do NBA stars have against Dallas?

One of the wildest free agent weekends in memory just passed, opening up title avenues for a half dozen organizations, and all the Mavs can say is they're getting the band back together. Even Seth Curry's back. Next thing you know, Roddy Beaubois will be sniffing around the AAC.

Meanwhile, Brooklyn is getting Durant and Kyrie Irving, and the Nets haven't won a title since Dr. J rocked an Afro.

Sure, it's conceivable the Mavs could still salvage this summer. All they have to do is sign Danny Green. Doesn't sound that hard, does it? Green is a lot like Beverley. Good defender and shooter. A year older at 32, not that there's anything wrong with adding a player with a little championship mettle to go with the kids, Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. It's not even a matter of money. The Mavs have plenty, or at least more than most. They're just waiting on Green, who's waiting on Kawhi.

Think about that a moment: The Mavs' best hope this summer is not that Kawhi comes here, but that he goes anyplace except back to Toronto.

Until Kawhi makes up his mind, let's take a look at why the Mavs have failed to attract stars. The problem may have deeper roots, but we started noticing in 2012, when D-Will said thanks, but no thanks. Coming the summer after the Mavs blew up a championship team, fans weren't as forgiving as they might have been otherwise. By the time the Mavs lost out on Howard, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Jordan, Hassan Whiteside and Mike Conley over the next four summers, it had practically become a civic curse.

Before going further, consider where each of the players in the paragraph above ended up: five stayed with the same teams (Williams, Carmelo, Jordan, Whiteside and Conley), one went home (LeBron) and one signed with the Rockets (Howard). The guys who re-signed went with the organizations that could give them the most money, in other words.

Then again, Beverley is re-signing with the Clippers for less than he could have gotten elsewhere. Familiarity, then, can play a part, too. Reason enough for the Mavs to trade for Porzingis.

On the occasions when NBA players have gone elsewhere, it's usually been a big market or a glittering lifestyle. Or both. Think New York, Los Angeles, Miami. Lower Greenville is more than yours truly can handle, but it's not exactly South Beach.

Maybe so, you say, but what does Houston have that Dallas doesn't? James Harden. One of the reasons Howard chose the Rockets was the presence of one of the game's brightest young stars. The summer of 2012, Dirk Nowitzki was 33. Unless it's LeBron or Kobe Bryant, no one's signing up for the long haul with an aging star.

Your next question: Now that Dirk's done, what about the appeal of playing next to Luka? He's only 20. Porzingis is 24. Precociousness is good, but it's also premature to say what the Mavs will be. Luka had a rookie season to beat all but the Big O's, but it was still just one season. Porzingis is pretty much a known quantity. Still, he's coming off a major injury, and questions remain as to whether his body can withstand the rigors of the NBA.

This time next year, we should know most of what we need to know about Luka and Porzingis.

Only next year the free agent crop is, uh, less than ideal. Perfect.

Your last question: How much of a factor is Rick Carlisle in all this?

Even though his flow offense is popular with players, Carlisle isn't a player's coach. He's tough, sarcastic, demanding. When Delonte West labeled him "Uncle Ricky," he was going for irony, not family. Rajon Rondo certainly wasn't a fan, not that anyone should take him seriously. Carlisle is particularly hard on point guards, but that's true of a lot of coaches. Any truly great player wants a coach who can help him win a title. Ask Charles Barkley. He calls Carlisle's championship in 2011 the greatest in the super-team era.

Bottom line: As bad as the Mavs' track record is chasing superstars, they can at least cite mitigating circumstances. Chances are one of these days they'll finally hit on one. Until then, the likes of Danny Green will have to do. Or so they pray.