Samuel Dalembert Draws Interest From Heat, According To Report

Samuel Dalembert Draws Interest From Heat, According To Report

As the Miami Heat pick up the pieces from a disappointing NBA Finals loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the center position sticks out as a continued problem, especially given the way Tyson Chandler performed on the boards over the course of the championship series. As such, it makes perfect sense that the Heat are expressing interest in free agent center Samuel Dalembert, as reported by the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson (via SB Nation Bay Area).

Jackson reports that Miami would look to use the mid-level exception on Dalembert, provided that the exception still exists in the new collective bargaining agreement. The Sacramento Kings, the team that Dalembert played for last season, could also execute a sign-and-trade with Miami, assuming sign-and-trade deals remain legal in the new CBA. The Kings have expressed interest in retaining Dalembert as a frontcourt partner for young DeMarcus Cousins, but are believed to be committed to paying only a relatively small salary to the veteran.

Dalembert is one of the best rebounders and shotblockers in the NBA. He's an athletic finisher, but has awful hands, only sporadic bursts of offensive excellence and is prone to making a bad goaltending play once every half-hour or so. He hails from Haiti and has done amazing amounts of charitable work in Port-au-Prince since the devastating earthquake less than two years ago. Miami is a short flight from Port-au-Prince.