Who will be our 2nd string C?

[bgrant44]

Hi, I assume our next year roster as following.

Terry/ Harris/ DA
Stack/ quis/ ?
Howard/ ? /
Dirk/ KVH / Powell
Damp/ ? / DJ

NBDL : Pavel

I heard we are still struggling with the decision for Fin. If the team like Chicago takes him, he can be released, I think.
We can know Dirk and KVH will cover some SF and Terry will cover some SG. So, we don't need to worry about PT.
My only concern is Backup C.

Just check this for reference.

36Min Playing time.
PPG Dampier 12.1 Pachulia 11.8 Hunter 10.2 Traylor 11.1 Davis 7.9 Moore 12.2
RPG Dampier 11.2 Pachulia 9.7 Hunter 7.8 Traylor 9.1 Davis 10.3 Moore 7.5
Shoot% Dampier 55% Pachulia 45% Hunter 61% Traylor 44% Davis 48% Moore 50%
FT% Dampier 61% Pachulia 75% Hunter 48% Traylor 54% Davis 61% Moore 79%
Blocks Dampier 1.8 Pachulia 1 Hunter 3.5 Traylor 1.37 Davis 1.8 Moore 0.97
Steals Dampier 0.4 Pachulia 1.1 Hunter 0.1 Traylor 1.47 Davis 0.8 Moore 0.59
Assists Dampier 1.2 Pachulia 1.5 Hunter 0.5 Traylor 1.6 Davis 1.3 Moore 1.36
TO Dampier 2.2 Pachulia 1.9 Hunter 1.5 Traylor 2 Davis 1.2 Moore 1.9
PF Dampier 4.6 Pachulia 4.2 Hunter 4.4 Traylor 5.8 Davis 4.5 Moore 5.2

Who will be the best choice??

[alby]

Isn't that what we've been discussing this whole time?

[alby]

People here like Pachulia, I personally think Steven Hunter would be perfect.

KVH would back up Dirk and Josh Howard.

[dirk2003]

Mbenga back up center, Powell backup 3/4

[alby]

No thank you.

[bcrav4]

Would it be soooo bad to see Damp for 32 mins a game and Benga/Pavel for the other 16 mins. Eight mins a piece should have them ready for the playoffs.

[alby]

Pavel getting 8 minutes a game would be a terrible sight.

I would be all for Damp getting heavy minutes if he could stay out of foul trouble, cliche i know, but his presence on the court makes us a whole lot better whether you like it or not.

[ddh33]

I don't think the second string center is on the roster yet. I think the team has been waiting as long as they could this summer to see what they have with Dj and Pavel. Now, they know that both players can be contributers at some point, or at least, they think so. However, they also know that aren't quite ready for prime time just yet. Expect some veteran stop gap to be signed.

[bgantz]

i like steven hunter the best...or reggie evans for 4/5 combo

[bgantz]

i'm also curious to see what happens with antonio davis of chicago.

[Lebanese_Fan]

Has anybody thought of putting KVH as the starting SF and Howard as the starting SG?
Both stack and KVH are offensive players, so we bench stack because he has been good at it. Dirk and KVH are insane together. They can dismantle any defense.

[dirk2003]

KVH is way too slow to be a 3. Mbenga is READY to be the backup center, and starting center against Phoenix. He is the only one that can guard Amare. I dont care what you say now, but you will see once the season starts. I hope that Pavel plays in the NBDL or Europe.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally posted by: Lebanese_Fan
Has anybody thought of putting KVH as the starting SF and Howard as the starting SG?
Both stack and KVH are offensive players, so we bench stack because he has been good at it. Dirk and KVH are insane together. They can dismantle any defense.

That works in special cases when we play a small forward who isnt T-Mac or Des-Mas. If its Peja, Im all for it.

[alby]

I think that lineup would work only on some accounts, not for long stretches.. and on defense, we would probably have to play the 2, 3 zone

and we all know zone defenses are great only in spurts

[snoop]

Dampier just needs to step up so all this is not such a huge issue. For us to contend Damp has to be a dominate center. Who was Shaqs back up in LA- Shaun Rooks, Travis knight. David Robinsons? Hakeem? My point is our fear dosn't need to be who backs up Damp, just how well Damp plays. DJ and Pavel are both better than Travis Knight. TRAVIS KNIGHT for god sake.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img]

[bgrant44]

I know one case.
Big Cuban's mistake...Evan Eschmeyer..??

His stats was just like that before his contract.

3.4ppg, 4.9rpg, 0.5ast, 0.8blk, 18min, 46%FG%, 66%FT

with 36min stats

6.8ppg, 9.8rpg, 1ast, 1.6blk, 46%FG, 66%FT, 6Foul...

What's the difference among many centers above(Assume 9Mil, 3year value)
Obina Ekezie? 6Foul..Diop? 6Foul...Bradley? His 36min stats is 6.2 Foul.
I don't want see "Damp and 2nd C's quick 2 Foul...Then Dirk is C" situation.

I will take Dale Davis anyway. He is proven and productive player still. He manages game well.
He will be our best choice.

Next? Zaza..4.2Foul

Then Hunter. But, he is injury-prone. Even his stats is over-rated with Phoenix's run and gun game.

[alby]

Originally posted by: snoop
Dampier just needs to step up so all this is not such a huge issue. For us to contend Damp has to be a dominate center. Who was Shaqs back up in LA- Shaun Rooks, Travis knight. David Robinsons? Hakeem? My point is our fear dosn't need to be who backs up Damp, just how well Damp plays. DJ and Pavel are both better than Travis Knight. TRAVIS KNIGHT for god sake.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img]

That's true, but those guys can play 40+ minutes a night and still be dominant. Dampier, even when not in foul trouble (very rare), would not be able to do this on a consistent basis and that is why we need a decent backup center. We can not and should not be comparing Erick Dampier to Shaq, Drob, or the Dream. =]

Potentially no, but Travis Knight is ahead of DJ and Pavel IMO because he played 4 years of college ball and the understanding of how to play the game is superior to DJ's and Pavel's at this stage in their young careers. We all know basketball is not all about how big, fast, or athletic you are.

[madape]

Steven hunter is terrible. That's really all I can say about the guy. He's terrible.

[Lebanese_Fan]

We need stack to become a scary offensive player that defenses think twice about, just like he was 3 years ago. Some attention should be taken of dirk on offense so he can still be effectibe in the playoffs.

[The Miles]

I am hoping that we sign Dale Davis or Othella Harrington. I know, boring names, but good solid role players that were rotation players on 04/05 playoff teams.

[alby]

Cuban doesn't believe in picking up good solid rotation players =P

[LRB]

Originally posted by: alby
Cuban doesn't believe in picking up good solid rotation players =P

It does seem that we try to go with the flashy acquistion, someone who is more suited for star than roleplayer. If that doesn't work we've always seemed to have tried and acquire the unconventional roleplayer. Someone way past their prime or for some other reason is especially desireable to the rest of the league. It's like we're committed to swinging for the fenses every time and refuse to even think about taking a base on balls.

[dalmations202]

We had role players in Adrian Griffin, Shawn Bradley, Raja Bell, Alan Henderson, Greg Bucknor, Najera, Lafrentz, etc, etc, etc.

You still have to have enough talent to win. A team either has to have 2 players that can't be defended, ie TMac, Kobe, KGarnett, Shaq.... with role players surrounding them, or they have to play like a team with 1 dominant go-to player, and several other players who can dominate if you don't double team then. Detroit doesn't win w/o Rasheed and the fact that he can go inside or out. SA doesn't win w/o Ginobli/Parker ability to take the double off Duncan.

If Dirk is the go-to guy, then you need others to share the load, or get him another super-star to play beside him. Preferably a super-star that can dominate inside, so he can be the outside threat. IE... I think Dirk/Shaq would be unstoppable, if you put defensive guys at the other 3 spots. They would absolutely control the frontcourt, and the paint.

[ocelot_ark]

Originally posted by: madape
Steven hunter is terrible. That's really all I can say about the guy. He's terrible.

I'm glad someone said it. Dude sucks.

[Joey]

I hear that Shawn Bradley is going to retire...maybe we could talk him out of retirement and joining our club...oh wait. I'm sorry I thought this was the Pheonix/ex-Mavs sight. My bad.

[cripple balls]

Originally posted by: alby
Cuban doesn't believe in picking up good solid rotation players =P

I use to think that a strong bench was important. But does it really matter in the playoffs when every coach shortens his bench and the starters get almost all the minutes. I kind of like what Phoenix is doing in investing all they're money in just getting 5 badass starters and not caring much about the bench. I think we have two championship caliber starters in Dirk and Howard, and that we should always look for opportunities to move some of our depth to add another stud to the starting rotation.

[dude1394]

Ultimately I really want to see jho become more of a sg than a sf.. I think he's got some really special skills there if he could really get his shot down. He's absolutely unstoppable with the ball and he has more body control than anyone on the mavs last year. He could really be a special offensive player if he is posted up more.

[dalmations202]

Interesting, JHO in the post, and Dirk and KVH out on the perimeter, with Terry spotted up, and (athletic center who can shoot the 15' or Damp) on backside rebound/cutter/ pick setter duty. That would make for some interesting matchups, if the offense were a more passing style offense, instead of a pick-n-role style. It would also put smaller defenders in the paint when Dirk/KVH were to drive. - interesting thoughts.............

[Eman]

I think Nene from Denver would be a good backup center for us. He is quick and can run the floor, and he's early 20's. Denver needs a shooting guard!?

[dude1394]

Nene would be a stud and push dampier big time. I'm on board.

[Arne]

Originally posted by: madape
Steven hunter is terrible. That's really all I can say about the guy. He's terrible.

Everyone who leaves Phoenix seems to be terrible... Even Joe Johnson isn't that important any more, because they "whipped" us 4:2...

Why don'T you choose to go to a Suns-Board and stop pissing us of, madape!?

[D-town funkadellic]

Interesting question. I think our 2nd string center should be Dale Davis. The guy played like a beast when Squirmaine O'Neal was out last season, and continued to play like a beast for the remainder of the season. He's kind of old ('bout 35) but last year he showed he still had plenty of gas left in the tank. Last season with Indiana, he averaged 8.9 rpg. Steven Hunter can't do that and he's still a fresh-legged pup. We havent had a good veteran inside presence since... hmm... Cedric Ceballos?? Ok, thats a stretch, but seriously- look at what Alan Henderson gave us last season. He was one of my favorite bench players on the team because he hustled so hard every night. Dale Davis brings that same intensity. We need somebody to get down and dirty and throw some bows in the paint, and Dampier doesnt do that enough. Davis would be a great energy type player coming off the bench and I think he would dramatically increase the effectiveness of our inside game.


$0.02

[jayC]

I would love to see mutumbo. Sure Deke is like a 100, but he can play effectively in spurts. The mavs just need a 10-15 minute a night center.

[cripple balls]

Originally posted by: Eman
I think Nene from Denver would be a good backup center for us. He is quick and can run the floor, and he's early 20's. Denver needs a shooting guard!?

I would love some Nene, but your dreaming here.

[ocelot_ark]

What exactly has Steven Hunter proven? Nothing.

[Eman]

Just read on CBSsportsline.com that the Clippers are trying to trade Chris Wilcox, 22 year old center. 8 points 4.2 rebounds last year in only 18 minutes.................

Might be a good backup for Damp???!!!!!

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally posted by: ocelot_ark
What exactly has Steven Hunter proven? Nothing.

At this point, he's proven more than DJ has.

[greensborohill]

Steven Hunter

[kriD]

Mavs switch gears on big-man search

By DWAIN PRICE
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

The Mavericks were unable to sign the inside player they coveted the most this off-season when Phoenix Suns free agent center Steven Hunter signed a five-year, $17 million contract Thursday with the Philadelphia 76ers.

With free agents Dale Davis and Brian Grant probably out of their price range -- and with Dikembe Mutombo leaning toward re-signing with Houston -- the Mavs are hoping to sign either DeSagana Diop, Mikki Moore or Ervin Johnson to serve as Erick Dampier's backup.

Diop, a restricted free agent with the Cleveland Cavaliers, has climbed the Mavs' wish list after a solid showing in the Las Vegas summer league. Diop struggled with the Cavs.

After being the eighth overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft out of Oak Hill (Va.) Academy, Diop developed slowly and didn't play much behind all-star center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. In 193 career games during his four years with the Cavs, he averaged 1.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in only 10.8 minutes per game.

The Mavs, however, believe, at age 23, Diop is ready to prove his worth in the NBA. But they also have their eyes on Moore.

Moore, 7-foot, 223 pounds, is a seven-year journeyman who has played for Detroit, Boston, Atlanta, New Jersey, Utah and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Last year with the Clippers, Moore, who'll turn 30 on Nov. 4, averaged 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game.

Meanwhile, Johnson, 37, is a 12-year veteran who has played with Seattle, Denver, Milwaukee and Minnesota. Johnson averaged 1.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 8.9 minutes per game last season for the Timberwolves.

[kriD]

Mavs switch gears on big-man search

By DWAIN PRICE
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

The Mavericks were unable to sign the inside player they coveted the most this off-season when Phoenix Suns free agent center Steven Hunter signed a five-year, $17 million contract Thursday with the Philadelphia 76ers.

With free agents Dale Davis and Brian Grant probably out of their price range -- and with Dikembe Mutombo leaning toward re-signing with Houston -- the Mavs are hoping to sign either DeSagana Diop, Mikki Moore or Ervin Johnson to serve as Erick Dampier's backup.

Diop, a restricted free agent with the Cleveland Cavaliers, has climbed the Mavs' wish list after a solid showing in the Las Vegas summer league. Diop struggled with the Cavs.

After being the eighth overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft out of Oak Hill (Va.) Academy, Diop developed slowly and didn't play much behind all-star center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. In 193 career games during his four years with the Cavs, he averaged 1.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in only 10.8 minutes per game.

The Mavs, however, believe, at age 23, Diop is ready to prove his worth in the NBA. But they also have their eyes on Moore.

Moore, 7-foot, 223 pounds, is a seven-year journeyman who has played for Detroit, Boston, Atlanta, New Jersey, Utah and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Last year with the Clippers, Moore, who'll turn 30 on Nov. 4, averaged 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game.

Meanwhile, Johnson, 37, is a 12-year veteran who has played with Seattle, Denver, Milwaukee and Minnesota. Johnson averaged 1.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 8.9 minutes per game last season for the Timberwolves.