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The Dallas Mavericks continue to pick up the pieces at the center position following DeAndre Jordan’s fake-out over a week ago. Once thought to be set at the position with Jordan in tow, Mark Cuban and co. have been in full scramble mode over the past week and a half as they’ve tried to bolster their center depth.
A trade for Milwaukee Bucks big man Zaza Pachulia netted them a serviceable starter, and the recent signing of former Mavs role player Samuel Dalembert may give them the quality depth they need at the position.
Dalembert is no stranger to the Mavericks, as the 34-year old big man spent the 2013-14 NBA season in Dallas, where he logged just over 20 minutes per game and chipped in averages of 6.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per contest.
No longer a viable starter, the aging Dalembert at the very worst gives the Mavs another suitable body off the bench that can score the basketball, rebound and protect the rim. Dalembert is a comfortable signing due to the familiarity and with a lack of quality centers left on the open market, the addition make a good amount of sense for the Mavs. It also likely signals the end of Dallas trying to chase down an upgrade over Pachulia, who can now settle in as the team’s starter.
Dalembert isn’t a difference-maker on his own, but he can help Dallas in spurts and gives them depth at a position that sorely needed it. His presence, along with Pachulia’s, doesn’t off-set the loss of either DeAndre Jordan or Tyson Chandler, but could potentially put the Mavs in a much better spot than they were just a week ago.
Dallas may have some issues at center, but overall saw their roster upgrade with off-season additions in point guard Deron Williams and shooting guard Wesley Matthews. None of the additions likely equate to a steady rise up the ranks in the brutal Western Conference, but the moves could collectively be enough to keep Dallas in the mix for one of the final two seeds in the conference.
