Dallas Mavericks: Samuel Dalembert The New Man In The Middle
The Dallas Mavericks approached the 2013 offseason with a vacancy at the center position and their sights set on Dwight Howard, the best available player in all of free agency. The Mavericks were eventually spurned by Howard,as he chose to become a member of the Houston Rockets.
After Howard inked his deal with the Rockets, there were not many big men available in free agency. The Mavericks clearly had no interest in bringing back Chris Kaman, who started at center for the majority of the 2012-13 season. Dallas also waived backup center Bernard James on July 20.
The Mavericks turned to other needs in free agency and began signing guard after guard while the vacancy at the center position loomed larger and larger. The Mavericks kicked the tires on center Andrew Bynum, but decided not to offer him a contract. The Mavericks reportedly had interest in former No. 1 overall draft pick Greg Oden, but nothing came close to materializing in Dallas. The Mavericks also found that there were no reasonable options available on the trade market and there was only one remaining free agent that would be a fit for the 2013-14 season.
The Mavericks had sufficiently addressed the offensive side of the ball with the signing of Jose Calderon and shooting guard Monta Ellis. Dallas did not need an offensive player in the post with Dirk Nowitzki and Brandan Wright on the team, the Mavericks needed a defensive presence down low and they found one.
Samuel Dalembert is one of many new players the Mavericks are counting on this season. (Photo Credit/Gin Blanton, Dallas Entertainment Journal)
The Mavericks signed center Samuel Dalembert to a two-year deal for $7.5 million. Dalembert becomes the Mavericks starting center and he will come without the risk associated with Andrew Bynum and Greg Oden. Dalembert has career averages of 8.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. Dalembert spent the first eight years of his career in Philadelphia but has played for three different teams the past three seasons. Dalembert spent last season with the Milwaukee Bucks, after spending a season in Sacramento and Houston.
Dalembert, 32, is not a glamorous player; he quietly goes about his business on the court and doesn’t make waves off it. Dalembert brings the Mavericks the defensive and rebounding presence they lacked last year when Chris Kaman patrolled the paint. Dalembert consistently challenges the shot on defense and has finished the season ranked among the top 10 in blocks seven times during his career.
Dalembert will not ease the pain that still lingers from the departure of Tyson Chandler in 2011, but he is a solid option in the paint, especially when you consider the type of team Dallas has built and the limited number of options available.
Tyson Chandler worked well with Nowitzki and the Mavericks guards because he had the ability the step up and protect the basket when necessary. This allowed the Mavericks to take chances defensively knowing the rim would still be protected. Dalembert brings enough of a similar defensive skill set that Dallas could see the same benefit on the court.
Another benefit to the signing is that Dalembert’s contract. The two-year deal that Dallas agreed to with Dalembert is not a contract that will hamstring the Mavericks financial future or flexibility. Taking everything into account, the Mavericks have succeeded in at least temporarily filling the gap they had at the center position with the signing of Dalembert.
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