SB Nation - Alexis Ajinca

ESPN: Eduardo Najera to retire from NBA, become D-League Head Coach

Ben Swanson — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 20:00:05 -0000

Per ESPN's Marc Stein, Bobcats forward Eduardo Najera will retire from the NBA with their sources indicating he will become head coach of the D-League's Texas Legends.

Najera, 36, had 12 total years of NBA experience under his belt, spending his last two in Charlotte after being traded to the Bobcats in the infamous Tyson Chandler trade that returned wayward son Matt Carroll and Erick Dampier in exchange for the future DPoY and Alexis Ajinca. Unfortunately, he spent much of the end of his final season mending from a very scary skull fracture. Thankfully, he has recovered well.

At times, he frustrated fans immensely with his occasion absurd confidence in his own range. But that might have caused some of us to overlook his solid fundamentals in setting screens and being an aggressive defender (yes, sometimes too much so) despite clear disadvantages athletically. Najera was a very intriguing player with a very intriguing history. In particular, my interest is always piqued by the 135-attempt jump in his three-point shots between the 06-07 and the 07-08 season. And even though he wasn't the quickest nor could he jump the highest, he gave more effort than most on the court. Yes, that doesn't mean too much when your team was as bad as the Bobcats the last couple years, but taking the highest effort for granted would be a mistake. On a young team, that consistent effort, experience and veteran presence was sorely needed.

Najera was also the first Mexican-born NBA player to be drafted and will soon become the first one to be a head coach in the D-League. Maybe I'm assuming here, but it can't be much of a stretch to see that he had a lot of pride in himself and possibly in representing his home country in such a way.

Best of luck to Najera in Texas with his new team. He will be sorely missed on a team whose oldest starter is 24 (Henderson). This also leaves the Bobcats with a need for a veteran power forward.

Anyway, best of luck in Texas for the most dapper basketball player in recent memory. Eduardo Najera is certainly a player I'll miss.

Top Five Trades in Dallas Mavericks History: #4

Alan Smithee — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 21:10:16 -0000

Continuing the trip down memory lane...

The Dallas Mavericks do not have what many would call a "storied history"; having joined the NBA in 1980 they remain one of the younger franchises in professional basketball, and so a list such as this may not require going too far in the Wayback machine. However, through the years the Mavericks have been one of the league's most active teams on the trade market, a tradition Mark Cuban has proudly continued, if not brought to crescendo. Some trades have been dubious, others hilarious, but these are the five we are calling "the best", under whatever arbitrary criteria so followed.

Find what checks in at #4 after The Jump:

July 13th, 2010: The Dallas Mavericks trade Erick Dampier, Matt Carroll, Eduardo Najera and cash to the Charlotte Bobcats for Tyson Chandler and Alexis Ajinca.

Ok, this trade you might remember.

The summer of 2010 was, for web-tuned Mavs fans, the summer of "The Dust Chip", the term given to Erick Dampier's $13 million nonguaranteed contract, which allowed for a team to cut him immediately, tax-free. This was supposed to make Dampier a powerful tool for GM Donnie Nelson and owner Mark Cuban to aggressively pursue a superstar, and at the time you may recall there were a few prominent names on the free agent market, like a certain Mr. James, Wade and Bosh.

Naturally, that was all comically unlikely right from the start, no matter how much fans wished for its providence or how many words Mike Fisher and his team used to hype it to earth-shattering levels. The Three Amigos assembled in South Beach, and by the time NBA business opened on July 10th there was nothing much more than scraps for the Dust Chip to fetch.

Knowing this, history must forgive us if our initial reactions to the Dust Chip bely its ingenuity.

I will be the first admit, myself, that I was not overwhelmed by the transaction when it was announced. I knew of Chandler's talent, of course, having personally witnessed he and Chris Paul dismantle Dallas in the first round of the playoffs a few years prior. However, the time since had not been too kind to Mr. Chandler. Frequent trips to the doctor provided reasonable cause for concern as to his health, as did his failing a physical that ended up negating a proposed trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder. And most advanced statistics and comprehensive metrics indicated these bumps and bruises had indeed eroded some of the skills and physical gifts which had made Chandler so much money to that point.

So, I was skeptical. Even if I could never fully buy into the idea that the Dust Chip could bring back a player the caliber of LeBron, the broken body of a formerly good big man was hardly the return I expected. At the time, with newly paid center Brendan Haywood seemingly entrenched at center, it seemed Dallas had ended up having to sell off the vaunted Dust Chip for an overpaid backup, not the Super-Sidekick who could help Dirk carry the Mavericks to the promised land.

Or not. If by some chance you're reading this and you don't know what happened next, Tyson Chandler would immediately seize the starting center job, and revitalize an aging Mavs' squad, providing energetic defense and an infectious optimism that many, included coach Rick Carlise and Dirk Nowitzki himself, would credit to helping change the culture of the team, on the court and in the locker room, culminating in a shocking title run and validation for one of the most unfairly maligned superstars in basketball history. Tyson Chandler was far from the only reason Dallas captured its first championship, but its next to impossible to imagine them duplicating the feat with most any other player in his stead.

Of course, for good measure, thanks to the always reliable ineptitude of the Charlotte Bobcats, the trade also allowed Dallas to shed a couple of bad contracts with Eduardo Najera and Matt Carroll. With Chandler and Ajinca both with just a year left on their contracts, Dallas was also able to get under the salary cap for the first time in what seemed like eons, and if Cuban ever gets his wish and is able to lure a free agent superstar to Texas, we will have yet another reason to laud this deal.

The championship is what really matters, of course. What makes it so interesting is how close it was to not happening. After the failed trade to OKC, Charlotte had another proposed move on the table with Toronto that would have swapped Chandler for Jose Calderon. That deal also fell through, as did a trade for Dallas that would have sent Dampier and his Dust Chip to Utah for Al Jefferson. Sometimes success and failure really is separated by the slimmest of margins. Thankfully, Mavs fans don't have to think about what might have been had Chandler ended up somewhere else for the 2010-'11 season.

Summer League GameThread - San Antonio Spurs vs Dallas Mavericks

Josh Guyer (completely deck) — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 21:30:02 -0000

San Antonio Spurs vs Dallas Mavericks

COX Pavilion - Las Vegas, NV

5:00 PM CST

San Antonio Spurs

NO.	PLAYER	POS.	HT.	WT.	DOB	PRIOR TO NBA/COUNTRY	NBA EXP.
42	Alexis Ajinca	C	7-2	248	05/06/88	Strasbourg IG/France	3
25	James Anderson	G	6-6	215	03/25/89	Oklahoma State/USA	2
10	Dwight Buycks	G	6-3	190	06/06/89	Marquette/USA	R
34	Derrick Byars	G/F	6-7	220	04/25/84	Vanderbilt/USA	1
23	Eric Dawson	F	6-9	250	07/07/84	Midwestern State (TX)/USA	1
1	Marcus Denmon	G	6-3	185	03/20/90	Missouri/USA	R
17	Moses Ehambe	G/F	6-6	215	05/22/86	Oral Roberts/USA	R
43	Darius Foster	G	6-3	210	01/12/88	Wilberforce/USA	R
11	JaMychal Green	F	6-8	228	06/21/90	Alabama/USA	R
7	Cedric Jackson	G	6-3	190	03/05/86	Cleveland State/USA	1
5	Cory Joseph	G	6-3	185	08/20/91	Texas/USA	1
2	Kawhi Leonard	F	6-7	225	06/29/91	San Diego State/USA	1
14	Kalin Lucas	G	6-1	195	05/24/89	Michigan State/USA	R
19	Ryan Richards	F	6-11	230	04/21/91	CB Gran Canaria/England	R
30	Alexis Wangmene	F/C	6-7	241	03/01/89	Texas/Cameroon	R
27	Tyler Wilkerson	F	6-8	240	07/25/88	Marshall/USA	R
24	L.D. Williams	G	6-4	210	05/08/88	Wake Forest/USA	R
40	Luke Zeller	F/C	6-11	245	04/07/87	Notre Dame/USA	R

HEAD COACH: Jacque Vaughn

ASSISTANT COACHES: Bret Brielmaier, Will Hardy, Taylor Jenkins, Alex Lloyd,

Christos Marmarinos, Lele Molin, Darko Rajakovic

TRAINER: Dice Yamaguchi

Mavericks Summer League Roster

Dee Brown (6'8", 27-years-old, last played at Teramo Basket in Italy, Phoenix Suns)

Jae Crowder (6'6", 22, Marquette)

Jared Cunningham (6'4", 21, Oregon State)

Justin Dentmon (5'11", 26, Toronto Raptors)

Micah Downs (6'8", 25, Basquet Manresa, Spain)

Drew Gordon (6'9", 21, New Mexico)

David Harrison (7'0", 29, Reno Bighorns, Indiana Pacers)

Bernard James (6'10", 27, Florida State)

Dominique Jones (6'5", 23, Texas Legends)

Solomon Jones (6'10", 27, New Orleans Hornets)

Chris Roberts (6'4", 23, Texas Legends)

Keith Wright (6'8", 22, Harvard)

Official Bright Side Of The Sun NBA Mock Draft 2012

Sean Sullivan — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:18:30 -0000

After all of the speculation, rumors, and trade winds...the day is finally here. Tonight is the 2012 NBA Draft in which young, talented prospects from around the world will wait to hear if their names are called, and by which teams.

Likewise, NBA fans everywhere will also be eagerly anticipating which shiny new player will become the latest addition to their team, in hopes that they will provide that missing piece to bring them that much closer to a championship.

How will the chips fall tonight? We'll have to wait and see. But for now, read on after the jump for the official BSOTS Mock draft for the first round, as well as a summery of who we believe the Phoenix Suns will pick and why.

Draft Order	*Omaha Sun*	*Jim Coughenour*	*7Footer*	*Alex Laugan*
1. New Orleans Hornets	Anthony Davis	Anthony Davis	Anthony Davis	Anthony Davis
2. Charlotte Bobcats	Thomas Robinson	Thomas Robinson	Thomas Robinson	Bradley Beal
3. Washington Wizards	Bradley Beal	Bradley Beal	Bradley Beal	Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
4. Cleveland Cavaliers	Michael Kidd-Gilchrist	Michael Kidd-Gilchrist	Harrison Barnes	Thomas Robinson
5. Sacramento Kings	Harrison Barnes	Harrison Barnes	Michael Kidd-Gilchrist	Harrison Barnes
6. Portland Trailblazers	Damian Lillard	Andre Drummond	Damian Lillard	Andre Drummond
7. Golden State Warriors	Andre Drummond	Dion Waiters	Andre Drummond	Dion Waiters
8. Toronto Raptors	Dion Waiters	Jeremy Lamb	Dion Waiters	Jeremy Lamb
9. Detroit Pistons	John Henson	John Henson	John Henson	John Henson
10. New Orleans Hornets	Austin Rivers	Damian Lillard	Austin Rivers	Tyler Zeller
11. Portland Trailblazers	Tyler Zeller	Austin Rivers	Tyler Zeller	Damian Lillard
12. Houston Rockets	Meyers Leonard	Arnett Moultrie	Perry Jones III	Terrence Ross
13. Phoenix Suns	Jeremy Lamb	Kendall Marshall	Kendall Marshall	Austin Rivers
14. Milwaukee Bucks	Perry Jones III	Meyers Leonard	Meyers Leonard	Meyers Leonard
15. Philadelphia 76ers	Terrence Jones	Terrence Jones	Terrence Jones	Perry Jones III
16. Houston Rockets	Terrence Ross	Terrence Ross	Terrence Ross	Terrence Jones
17. Dallas Mavericks	Mo Harkless	Tyler Zeller	Jeremy Lamb	Kendall Marshall
18. Houston Rockets	Arnett Moultrie	Moe Harkless	Arnette Moultrie	Arnett Moultrie
19. Orlando Magic	Kendall Marshall	Jared Sullinger	Jared Sullinger	Jared Sullinger
20. Denver Nuggets	Jared Sullinger	Andrew Nicholson	Andrew Nicholson	Moe Harkless
21. Boston Celtics	Royce White	Perry Jones III	Royce White	Royce White
22. Boston Celtics	Fab Melo	Fab Melo	Fab Melo	Andrew Nicholson
23. Atlanta Hawks	Quincy Miller	Tony Wroten	Moe Harkless	Draymond Green
24. Cleveland Cavaliers	Andrew Nicholson	Royce White	Quincy Miller	Fab Melo
25. Memphis Grizzlies	Will Barton	Evan Fournier	Will Barton	Quincy Miller
26. Indiana Pacers	Jeff Taylor	Marquis Teague	Jeff Taylor	Will Barton
27. Miami Heat	Festus Ezeli	Festus Ezeli	Festus Ezeli	Festus Ezeli
28. Oklahoma City Thunder	Evan Fournier	Jeff Taylor	Marquis Teague	Jeff Taylor
29. Chicago Bulls	Marquis Teague	Doron Lamb	Evan Fournier	Marquis Teague
30. Golden State Warriors	Kyle O’Quinn	Quincy Miller	Scott Machado	Tony Wroten

As you can see, many of us had a lot of picks in common, and none of us shared our picks with one another before we made our choices. So either we're all pretty well dialed in, or we're all just reading the same articles. Either way, many of our picks were very similar, especially in the lottery. However, when it came to the Suns, our supposed area of expertise, only Jim and I share the same premonition...although for very different reasons.

While we are unable to qualify our choices for each of our 30 picks, we did provide a brief summary of why we believe the Suns will choose the player we picked. Here are our thoughts:

Omaha Sun - We're all pretty familiar with what appears to be the Suns' targets at this point in the game. Dion Waiters is reportedly their favorite, but the chance that he is available at 13 is slight. Austin Rivers was a possibility, but he is likely out of the Suns' reach as well. That leaves Connecticut SG Jeremy Lamb, North Carolina PG Kendall Marshall, Washington SG Terrence Ross and Mississippi State PF Arnett Moultrie as players the Suns have expressed interest in.

Moultrie was brought in for workouts on two separate occasions and he seems to be a great fit in the Suns' system. In addition, GM Lance Blanks said the team has no problems with stocking up on talent in a particular position, so the selection of Markieff Morris last year won't affect their decision in this draft. Marshall also met with the team twice, and the Suns are in need of youth and talent at the point guard spot whether Steve Nash returns or not. Terrence Ross reportedly turned down an offer to visit Phoenix, but Jonathan Givony of Draft Express seems to believe the Suns would have no problems with picking him anyway. These are all excellent possibilities and I would not be surprised to see the Suns pick any of them at 13.

However, in this scenario Jeremy Lamb is still available for the Suns, and so they the other prospects are forgotten about. Lamb not only fills a need but can also be considered one of the best players left on the board. He provides the scoring the Suns need on the wing in addition to athleticism and defensive potential.

Jim Coughenour - I think the Suns like Rivers, Waiters, and Lamb, but I doubt they will still be available when they pick. In my scenario, the Suns select Marshall because the other players they covet (including Moultrie at 12 to Houston) are all off the board. I wouldn't be upset at all if the Suns surprised me though, as I am not enamored with this group (I would probably give the nod to Rivers among them).

I think this draft has the potential to be the deepest since the 2008 class, where 13-26 in order went Brandon Rush, Anthony Randolph, Robin Lopez, Roy Hibbert, Javale McGee, J.J. Hickson, Alexis Ajinca, Ryan Anderson, Courtney Lee, Kosta Koufos, Serge Ibaka, Nicolas Batum, and George Hill. While Rush hasn't been bad (and I think the Suns should consider him in free agency), he might end up having a less impactful career than up to 10 players taken immediately after him. There seem to be lots of talented bigs, so maybe one of them becomes an unforseen choice. I will also be upset if the Suns aren't making a second selection on Thursday, since I believe that upwards of six quality starters may be selected between 20-35 in this draft.

7Footer - For me it all comes down to drafting the best talent combined with a need when dealing with a borderline playoff team like the Suns, who also have so many potential holes to fill. On top of that, there are two positions that I put a premium on...center and point guard. A dominant center is the most difficult to find, simply because of the rarity of finding true 7footers who are both skilled and physically gifted. However, beyond Anthony Davis there just aren't any prospects that have that kind of potential, especially in the Suns' range.

The other position I put above all others is the point guard. A true point guard is like the quarterback of the basketball team. They rarely score the most points, but the entire offense runs through them. They are the engine that drives the bus. We as Suns' fans should know this better than anyone. But at times I wonder if perhaps we have been spoiled by watching Steve Nash in his seemingly effortless ability to orchestrate the offense so efficiently.

Without Nash, how ugly would the last couple of years have been? This is a reality we may face sooner than later depending on what happens in free agency. And even if Nash chooses to re-sign with the Suns, how much longer can he continue to play at this level? But there's hope! A young point guard by the name of Kendall Marshall with a very similar ability to run an offense is likely to be available by the time the Suns pick. A pure point guard of his ability usually wouldn't last until the late lottery, but because of a combination of great talent in this draft, and overblown concerns over his ability to score and mediocre athleticism, he could be within the Suns' range. In my opinion, Marshall has the potential to not only be a starting point guard, but a very good one at that. I think the Suns recognize their dilemma in having very few options beyond Nash, and will address not only an area of great importance, but acquire a great talent by drafting Kendall Marshall with the 13th pick.

Alex Laugan - I tried really hard to concoct a scenario where Lillard drops, but that would only happen if there is at least one blockbuster trade to a team(s) that want bigs. Perry Jones, T Jones, Harkless, Marshall, Ross, Rivers are all guys who COULD be gone by the Suns pick. And in those scenarios, it's possible that Lillard would drop. But that was never expected anyway.

So, here the Suns choose between Ross, Marshall and Rivers. I say Rivers. The Suns need an alpha dog and a guy who is comfortable taking the last shot AND talking to the media. Rivers would instantly bring recognition to the Suns, as well as a game that's only going to get better as he grows into his body and skillset. He can make and take any shot, and can make passes when he wants to. Of course, this assumes he progresses beyond what he showed as a freshman. If he doesn't, the best the Suns have is a cocky 6th-man offensive player (like Barbosa, except cocky).

So there you have it. With all of that said there's simply no way of knowing for sure. We each have our reasons as to why we think the Suns will pick a certain way, but a lot of it will depend on which players are available and who the Suns believe will be the best fit.

Of course, this could all change very quickly as well as there are certain to be at least a couple more trades today, and they could also impact how the Suns draft, or possibly even where. Remember, just because we haven't heard of any potential moves by the Suns doesn't mean it couldn't still happen...It's all still very much in the air.

Now it's your turn. Feel free to give your thoughts and your pick for the Suns in the comments below!

The Fascinating Case of Georgios Printezis

Adam Francis — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:01:07 -0000

One of the best things about Twitter is its randomness.

Like earlier today, I'm scrolling through the old HQ Twitter feed and see the following headline:

Georgios Printezis unlikely to make leap to the Knicks.

Printezis! Remember him?

You don't? Well here's a refresher.

Printezis is a 6-9 Greek forward who currently plays for Olympiacos but who at one point was property of the Toronto Raptors. Printezis recently hit the game-winning shot over CSKA Moscow in the Euroleague Final last week, and is playing the best basketball of his career by many accounts.

We never saw him in action though, because while his draft rights were acquired by the Bryan Colangelo on draft night 2007, he stayed overseas until his rights were dealt in early 2011 to the Mavericks for a small package including Raptor great Alexis Ajinca.

The fascinating thing about Printezis, is how he's managed to indirectly help every team BUT the Raptors.

When the Spurs' dealt him to Toronto for the Dinos' second-round pick in 2008, San Antonio then used said pick to draft Goran Dragic, but instead of keeping the young point guard, flipped him immediately to the Suns in exchange for Phoenix's 2009 pick, a pick they used to nab DeJuan Blair.

And while Dallas didn't press Printezis into action after he was acquired in the Ajinca deal, he did help round out the deal that saw them clear cap space by moving Tyson Chandler, cap space that could be a huge boon for Dallas as early as this summer.

And well, we know the impact Chandler had on the Knicks this past season.

So in the end, the Spurs got Blair, the Suns got Dragic, the Knicks got Chandler along with Printezis and the Raptors got Ajinca.

Moral of the story?

Larry Bird has done a great job in Indiana, but the Spurs' RC Buford should win executive of the year, EVERY year.

Mavericks Needs: A Look Into The Center Market

j0Shi — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:58:59 -0000

In this crazy free agency even a roster that nearly appeared to be set wasn't. The Mavericks traded away Rudy Fernandez and Corey Brewer to the Denver Nuggets for a future second-rounder and opened up two roster spots again. Although Dallas is considered one of the, if not the, deepest team in the league, there are minor holes at the small-forward and center position that could be filled.

The guard rotation is crowded with Jason Kidd, Delonte West, Vince Carter, Jason Terry, Rodrigue Beaubois and Dominique Jones. That's 3-deep at both guard positions. Vince Carter has the size to play the 3 (6-6 and Stevenson who picked up a lot of minutes there during the championship campaign is listed at 6-5), but hasn't done it during the last season. Coach Carlisle also stated that he views him more as a 2/3 rather than a 3/2. Odom's versatility also would allow him to pick up minutes at that spot, but he barely played out of position (PF) last year, too. That leaves the Mavs with only one true small-forward: Shawn Marion. With no acquisition, we know the Coach will find units that will work, but another pickup wouldn't be too bad. Just in case.

Power-forwards are Dirk Nowitzki, Lamar Odom, Brian Cardinal and Brandan Wright. That's probably the best duo (and trio... and quartet) in the league right now. Wright could play at center, but it's questionable that he even will crack the rotation and Carlisle sees him more as a PF. So there's Ian Mahinmi and Brendan Haywood. It has been noted that we could see some lineups with Dirk or Odom at the 5, but this is highly based on matchups. First of all I already stated that Odom rarely played out of position last season and so did Dirk. Secondly it can be questioned whether you want to exhaust both players at that very physical position in a condensed season. I'm especially not too sure about Dirk in that regard. So another pickup at center would also be nice. Again: Just in case.

We'll start with available centers on the market in this one. Click through to see the compilation and analysis.

Player	FG%	FT%	FTA	PTS	REB	AST	TO	BLK	PF	WS48	WP48	PER	Def +/-
McDyess, Antonio	49.10%	67.50%	2.7	13.5	13.7	2.9	2.5	1.3	5.6	0.105	0.128	12.80	-1.06
Evans, Reggie	40.00%	54.40%	5.3	8.0	20.8	2.3	2.4	0.4	5.4	0.078	0.268	12.40	2.49
Ilunga-Mbenga, Didier	46.90%	72.20%	2.6	8.6	12.6	0.9	3.1	4.0	7.6	0.076	0.087	9.70	-4.15
Przybilla, Joel	56.80%	51.90%	2.5	5.9	13.4	1.2	2.7	1.4	7.3	0.046	0.048	6.20	2.17
Dalembert, Samuel	47.30%	73.00%	3.7	16.0	16.3	1.7	3.3	2.9	5.6	0.072	0.107	14.10	-1.50
Fesenko, Kyrylo	44.00%	39.10%	4.9	11.2	11.4	1.9	2.6	1.7	9.5	-0.011	-0.129	5.80	-11.91
Dampier, Erick	58.40%	54.50%	2.6	7.5	10.4	1.3	1.9	2.8	4.8	0.109	0.118	9.70	-2.32
Elson, Francisco	48.70%	83.90%	2.4	10.5	9.0	2.6	2.5	1.1	6.6	0.046	-0.010	8.90	-4.32
Armstrong, Hilton	48.70%	48.50%	3.2	9.0	12.8	1.4	2.7	2.0	8.2	0.045	0.043	8.80	-3.90
Ratliff, Theo	16.70%	0.00%	1.4	1.4	9.0	2.1	2.1	3.5	4.9	0.000	0.003	4.40	2.37
Thomas, Etan	47.60%	80.00%	8.8	18.7	13.5	1.2	2.9	2.3	6.4	0.130	0.134	15.10	9.43
Jones, Solomon	40.50%	66.10%	5.6	12.6	10.3	2.7	3.2	2.0	8.5	0.042	-0.016	8.50	-2.24
Haddadi, Hamed	51.70%	65.20%	6.5	21.0	19.1	1.4	3.1	3.6	8.1	0.164	0.208	19.70	1.60
Ajinca, Alexis	44.40%	72.20%	2.5	20.1	11.0	1.4	2.5	2.7	10.3	0.052	-0.100	12.20	-8.57
Haywood, Brendan	57.40%	36.20%	6.4	11.5	13.5	0.7	1.8	2.7	5.3	0.104	0.121	11.70	3.01
Mahinmi, Ian	56.10%	76.80%	8.1	17.1	11.9	0.8	2.5	1.5	10.4	0.177	0.089	13.70	-0.78
Average C	51.50%	66.20%	5.1	17.4	12.3	2.2	2.4	1.9	5.3	-	0.100	15.00	-

These stats are provided by Basketball-Reference, Basketball-Value, TheNBAGeek and WagesOfWins.

Let's sort out some things first:

Joel Przybilla is a dad for now and will decide on a new contract after the holidays. Right now, he's Unavailable.
Etan Thomas's stats look nice, but he only played 82 minutes last season and had much worse years in 08/09 and 09/10. So these numbers are not reliable. But he's Available.
Samuel Dalembert is clearly ahead of the pack, but he has been linked to the Rockets. Also there are numerous teams out there that would top a minimum offer by the Mavs. Unavailable.
Kyrylo Fesenko was injured while playing for his national team in September. He should be good to go now and I consider him Available.
Solomon Jones has already met with multiple teams according to @DimeMag. Available.
Antonio McDyess still thinks about retiring and if not, he probably will just resign with the Spurs, who are also in need of big-men. Theoretically Available.
Reggie Evans is drawing interest from multiple teams. He also seems to be looking for playing time, so borderline Available with the current roster. Mavs might have to offer him the backup spot behind Haywood.
Hamed Haddadi is stuck in Iran. It's also likely that he will rejoin the Grizzlies once he returns. Unavailable.
Alexis Ajinca had been on the Mavs roster last year before they traded him to Toronto. He is drawing interest from the Knicks. Available.
Didier Ilunga-Mbenga, Erick Dampier, Francisco Elson, Hilton Armstrong and Theo Ratliff are Available.

Sorting out numbers and infos, we got a list:

Erick Dampier. A familiar name becomes the frontrunner! Believe it or not, but he had a solid year with the Heat and got rewarded with a championship party at the Liv nightclub. Sort of. His PER is not impressive (representing his lack of scoring and below-the-average rebounding), but he tops the list in FG%, fewest turnovers, fewest personal fouls and still blocks a considerable amount of shots. The advanced metrics rank him in the Top 6 of WS48, WP48 and Defensive +/-, which also means Miami played better defense when he was on the floor. Only downside is FT% and Haywood also had a horrible season in that regard. Both centers can't score from the line? Not good. Mahinmi can hit free throws, but can he stay on the floor long enough with 10.4 fouls per 48 minutes?
McDyess is right there with Ericka, but the mentioned uncertainties push him to the second place. He can still score, has a nice midrange jumper, is an above-the-average rebounder and tops the list in assists, which would nicely fit the Mavs unselfish offense. Advanced metrics rank him 4th in WS48 and WP48. He only drops off a bit in Def +/-, but that's OK. I'd consider him an even stronger pickup than Dampier, but I think he will either rejoin the Spurs or retire.
Reggie Evans. Rebounds! Also a considerable amount of assists, few turnovers, but rarely blocks a shot. His WP48 is off the chart (Chandler also had 0.268 last year), but free throw percentage is a problem and Toronto's league-worst defense last year got even worse when he was on the floor.
Mbenga. Had a nice defensive impact on last years Hornets and can still rebound the ball. FT% is also a plus and he tops the list in blocked shots. Advanced metrics are OK, but he fouls a lot and turns the ball over too much.
Ajinca. The Mavs know him so that gives him the edge at the end of our list. Scored a lot in limited minutes with Toronto last season, but a negative WP48 is normally a no-go. Tops the list in defensive +/-, but just like Mahinmi he's a foul machine. Slightly above the middle of the pack in the other categories.

So these are your candidates. Let me know if I missed out on any available free agents. Be sure to check back regularly to read the follow-up on the small-forward market!

Poll

Which center should the Mavericks add?

Give me Ericka! He should have a championship party AND a ring!

62 votes

Give me McDyess! The Spurs are done anyway and he wants to play for a contender, right?

106 votes

Give me Evans! Kidd, Carter, Odom, Marion and Haywood are already above-the-average rebounders at their respective positions, so let's build on that!

92 votes

Give me Mbenga! After pickung up Odom, we need another former Laker in the squad!

47 votes

Give me Ajinca! Who cares about fouls?

49 votes

These are our options? Let's stay put!

115 votes

471 votes | Poll has closed

Will the Oklahoma City Thunder Sign Anybody in Free Agency? How does Tyson Chandler and Caron Butler leaving the Mavericks Affect Them?

Zorgon — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:31:10 -0000

Right now, the NBA is abuzz with Free Agent News, and I'm certain this post will become outdated in a matter of hours. But just for now, I'll take the time to assess the Thunder's current situation.

If you don't know who's signed where, be sure to check with Peachtree Hoops' Free Agency Board, which, as Seth Pollack described, is "A True Work of Art".

The biggest news for the Thunder so far is easily the departure of Tyson Chandler from the Mavericks. He's left to the Eastern Conference, meaning the Mavericks don't have anybody to hold down the paint or dominate on the boards like Chandler did. The Mavericks have also lost Caron Butler to the Clippers, who wasn't present for the playoffs, but was a significant contributor to two regular season wins against the Thunder, scoring 15 and 21 points during those contests. Lastly, the Mavericks are likely to lose Jose Juan Barea, who was an excellent scorer in key stretches against the Thunder during the Western Conference Finals.

How much does this affect the Mavericks? Well, assumning they re-sign DeShawn Stevenson, their starting lineup still looks quite menacing, with Haywood likely replacing Chandler. But their bench will be a problem. They still have Jason Terry, but they'll have to rely quite a bit on Rodrigue Beaubois, and their big men core is looking thin, with Alexis Ajinca and Ian Mahimni set to get minutes.

Below: Why the Mavericks Are Still Good, Shane Battier, Nate Robinson!

But the Mavericks still have the matchup advantage that mattered the most against the Thunder, and his name is Drik Nowitzki. Sure, the Mavs won't have great defense in the paint or be as good at driving the lane, but the Thunder aren't going to have a great post scorer any time soon, and Barea was only a minor pain. When it's all said and done, the Mavericks will still be a large thorn in our side.

A bigger concern might be Caron Butler's departure to Los Angeles. The Clippers (yes, the Clippers) now have two excellent swingman scoring threats in Caron Butler and Eric Gordon, and they will be backed up by Randy Foye on the bench. Oh, and of course, they have Blake Griffin. It's not enough to a Championship charge, but it's certainly enough to make them relevant.

The only other signing of note for the Thunder is Shane Battier, who has departed the Grizzlies for the Heat. It's not really a huge hit to the Grizzlies, but it is notable because some people were talking about signing this guy to the Thunder. Given how strict Scott Brooks is about his lineups, I don't think he would have gotten much time, nor could the Thunder afford the money to sign a guy to a multi-year contract.

Meanwhile, Nate Robinson will not report to training camp, and will probably soon be brought out/amnestied/traded. I know a lot of you are hoping for a big move to come out of this, but I'm seriously doubting it. Nate's stock has dropped through his time sitting on the Thunder's bench, and I doubt somebody would want to have him signed to as much money as he's making now.

The more likely solution is that he gets dropped, and the Thunder keep the 15th spot open for a D-League player. And, if not that, I'd expect some minor "veteran" signing like Sam Presti has done in the past. Think along the lines of Kevin Ollie and Etan Thomas, not a guy like Shane Battier. Yeah, it's the boring answer to give, but it's the most realistic one, too.

Then again, Nate Robinson hasn't been waived yet, so who knows? There might be a deal in the works.

Do you hope the Thunder have a deal in the works over the next couple of days? Post a comment!

Nets Interested in Jared Jeffries?

Net Income — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:57:20 -0000

Marc Berman reports that the Nets have reached out to Jared Jeffries, the 6'11' defensive specialist who's had two turns with the Knicks, the first as one of Isiah Thomas' worst moves. Berman writes at the bottom of a column on the Knick's big man issues, "They plan on re-signing Jared Jeffries, feeling his brief late-season tenure was not a fair measure. However, a league source said the Nets have also made a Jeffries inquiry."

Jeffries, 30, has career averages of 5.1 points and 4.2 rebounds.

New York Knicks targeting Toronto center Alexis Ajinca - Marc Berman - New York Post

Add Alexis Ajinca's name to the list.

Seth — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:22:33 -0000

The list of free agents in whom the Knicks have expressed interest has grown rapidly, and it will eventually include most everybody available. So, as I've said before, there's no need to soil one's self over any "Knicks are interested in X" reports (feel free to soil yourself, but pick a better reason). It's still fun to see who they're calling, though, and the beat reporters have been sharp about keeping in touch with agents to give us a sense of that list. Anyway, here's this from Marc Berman:

The Knicks continue beating the bushes for a big man and have placed Toronto’s young 7-2 French center Alexis Ajinca among their targets.

Ajinca — who began last season with Dallas, even starting two games — is strictly a reserve and still needs to work on his body with his skinny build. But if Toronto passes, the Knicks could take a flyer on Ajinca with a one-year deal for a minimum-range salary.

It isn’t surprising Mike D’Antoni’s Knicks have interest in Ajinca because of his European offensive style, as he can shoot the 3-pointer. But he also can rebound and can be an athletic shot-blocker. He’s only 23 and the Knicks need to stockpile size.

Your first reaction, I bet, was either "who!?" or "him!?" or "that's a girl's name", all of which are fair. This would, indeed, qualify as beating-- really working over-- the bushes. Ajinca is quite tall and quite skinny, and I think fans in Toronto, Dallas, and Charlotte would agree that he's not particularly good at basketball. From what I've seen, Ajinca mostly lopes around heaving threes, (didn't he once torch the Knicks from downtown? Or was that everybody else ever?) and doesn't actually rebound or defend that competently, particularly for a man his size.

But he's tall and has at least one discernible skill (I can envision Coach D'Antoni putting him in to take corner threes and guard Rajon Rondo) and, most importantly, he probably won't demand that much money. If and when the likes of Kwame Brown, Aaron Gray, and company are scooped up by freer-spending teams, this may be the type of guy the Knicks are left to attract. (This is assuming that reports of their intentions to sign mostly minimum deals are accurate). And that's okay! Sometimes you need a guy to be tall, take a few fouls, and hang out with Ronny Turiaf.

So far, though, it's just a phone call.

129 NBA Free Agents And Their Chances of Becoming Philadelphia 76ers, Part One

Michael Levin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:03:03 -0000

It's been a while since NBA basketball was played, so I won't blame you for a few things slipping your mind. Por ejemplo, who is actually on the Sixers this season. There are 9 guys with guaranteed contracts and forgotten rookie Nikola Vucevic will sign as well, leaving a few spots open even with the qualifying offers out to Spencer Hawes (he'll accept) and Thaddeus Young (look for a long, frustrating article about him in the coming week or two).

Aside from hometown cheerleader Lavoy Allen, who figures to get a mini deal after what I anticipate being a middling camp appearance, nobody has a claim staked to the treasured final few positions, which means Rod Thorn and company will address the end of the bench with that flighty temptress, free agency. Thankfully, Liberty Ballers has the support of the SB Nation network behind us, and Tom Ziller has laid out the 129 available and semi-available people for us to pick from.

After the jump, I weigh in on who jumps out to me, who makes the dreaded basketball sense, and who I forgot was still in the league.

Per Ziller, the asterisks indicate an overseas contract that could inhibit their return to the homeland.

Aaron Brooks*, PHO - Though backup point guard is a need, he's an RFA still hoping for a starting gig somewhere and will cost too much. Plus I had the Quarterback version of him on my 2005 Fantasy Football team and he completely cost me the league.

Aaron Gray, NOH - Got outplayed by Jason Smith last year.

Acie Law, GSW - Would only sign him so I could unabashedly play clips from the 3OT showdown between Texas/A&M with he and Kevin Durant going berserk. Actually, I do that anyway. Double actually, he may not be a terrible sign though his point guard skills are not exactly skill-like.

It's at this time I realize how long this is going to take and decide to break it up into two parts. Three cheers for after-the-fact editing!

Al Thornton, GSW - Most Sixers fans remember him as Not Thaddeus Young. Pass.

Alexis Ajinca, TOR - Totally a guy I'd roll the dice on. Won't pan out but young and French and full of unrealized potential, youth, and sprightliness. Would love to see he and Craig Brackins perform the YMCA due to their exceedingly long arms.

Andrei Kirilenko*, UTA - He hasn't been AK-47 in at least four years. Will be interested to see how much he'll get on the market but it won't be here.

Anthony Carter, NYK - The backupiest backup point guard there ever was. It makes too much sense for him to sign here and become Doug Overton. I'd officially be surprised if he's not a Sixer.

Anthony Parker, CLE - Yay Israel! He'd make Jodie Meeks redundant and probably wants the MLE. Won't get it here.

Antonio Daniels, PHI - He may have played 15 seconds with us last season but his signing was the most exciting thing I remember from 2010. Is that bad?

Arron Afflalo, DEN - I don't really know anything about the situation but I can't imagine he'd leave Denver. If Iguodala wasn't around, I'd go waist deep in trying to get him - he'd look great next to Evan Turner and fellow Bruin Jrue Holiday. He's an RFA - he'll stay a Nug.

Ben Uzoh, NJ - Don't see him sticking anywhere. Not enough upside for me to care. He's probably friends with Jerome Jordan though.

Brandan Wright, NJ - If I had access to a paper and pen, I'd write a letter to the Sixers FO pleading for them to sign Brandan Wright, then force him to lose the last name and just go by "Brandan". I'll forever be waiting on him to realize his potential, but with 'Dan, I don't mind spending every day out on his corner in the pouring rain, etc etc.

Brian Cardinal, DAL - Directing all questions to Scott Schroeder.

Brian Scalabrine, CHI - It's gotten to the point where you're a hipster if you DON'T want him on your team.

Carl Landry, NOH - We didn't draft him or his brother Marcus but we did draft Herbert Hill a few years back and that may be close enough. He'll end up getting signed for more than he's worth, Kenny Thomas style.

Carlos Arroyo, BOS - Without checking, I think he's played for every Atlantic Division team but the Sixers. Keeping it that way.

Caron Butler, DAL - Wanted his expiring for Iguodala last season but no dice. I'm guessing his career goes the way of Jamaal Mashburn from here on out, who I'm still waiting to see play his first game as a Sixer.

Chris Quinn, SA - I've never been less ambivalent.

Chris Wilcox, DET - Not Lonny Baxter was good in Seattle and noplace else. There's a strong likelihood that he's never stopped being a Supersonic. Wouldn't mind a flyer on him if it was for the minimum.

Chuck Hayes, HOU - He's going to want a lot of money and I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because he's the second coming of Glen Davis before Glen Davis has fully came. Hm.

Craig Smith, LAC - Too hybridy. Fitting for LA, though.

D.J. Mbenga, NOH - I'd offer the max. We need more Mb's!

Daequan Cook, OKC - His role evaporated when James Harden and Thabo Sefolosha ousted him from the rotation. The dude we traded for Jason Smith on draft night 2007 could land back with Miami. They like shooters there.

DaJuan Summers, DET - Really thought he'd be better. He's not.

Damien Wilkins, ATL - Stay in Atlanta, simply for the novelty.

Dan Gadzuric, NJ - Seems like he's 74 years old but he's probably only about half that and would serve as a significant upgrade over The Closer himself, Tony Battie, as backup big man.

Dante Cunningham, CHA - Classy guy, minimal NBA game. Hope he sticks somewhere, won't be here.

Darius Songaila, PHI - Pours one out for our homies.

Darnell Jackson*, SAC - Would rather go high-upside than grit.

David West, NOH - Our friend Rohan once told me that he may be the worst rebounder in the league, despite having all the tools to be dirty. He's coming off a bunch of odd ailments and I'm confident he's not the difference maker this team would need. Plus, major logjam at the 4.

DeAndre Jordan, LAC - I'd offer him everything. He's got legitimate Top 10 center upside and it remains to be seen how much the Clip Joint are willing to commit to their front court with Mr. Blake Griffin already anchored in. He'd be significantly more valuable than Thad or Spencer for me. Could be worth the fat offer sheet - worth monitoring but file this in the pipedreams folder.

Delonte West, NOH - I didn't even like him at St. Joe's.

Derrick Brown, NY - Would love him though he's restricted. Crafty lefty with tons of explosiveness and a decent feel for the game - I think he could come in and do what Thad does for about one-eighth the price. No outside shot. Perfect!

DeShawn Stevenson, DAL - Couldn't want him any less.

Dominic McGuire, CHA - I'm fairly confident I've never watched him play. Fresno State though, so there's a Paul George connection to think about.

Earl Boykins, MIL - Aww.

Earl Clark, ORL - Hasn't shown anything at all in the pros but I'd take a chance on him, stash him in the D-League for as long as we're allowed, and hope it clicks.

Earl Watson, UTA - If he's 6'1, then I'm Godzilla.

Erick Dampier, MIA - He and Adonal Foyle need to rent a cabin together and film their experience on the travel channel already. it's been long enough, guys.

Etan Thomas, ATL - Serviceable backup big. Nothing to say.

Francisco Elson, UTA - WHERE IS MY SUPER SUIT?

Garrett Temple, CHA - I had some irrational love for him at LSU. He's kind of a poor man's James Harden. I guess that's Kyle Weaver. Somewhere in between maybe?

Gary Forbes, DEN - Had a few huge games if I recall. And I think the Sixers tried him out a few years back. Nothing doing.

Glen Davis, BOS - Nah.

Grant Hill, PHO - Please, sign more aging wings.

Greg Oden, POR - You know how I feel about him. If you don't, learn here. He is simultaneously everything and nothing. If we bet on everything long enough, it's bound to pay off, right?!

Hamady N'diaye, WAS - See Mbenga D.J. Though I did see him stuff the crap out of Wes Johnson at a Rutgers/Cuse game. Not a pro, unfortunately.

Hamed Haddadi, MEM - Would be interested to see what he can do when Marc Gasol isn't above him on the depth chart. I'd love to take a chance on him here, barring any ignorant fallout from the fans.

Hilton Armstrong, ATL - He and Josh Boone have to live together, right? They jsut have to.

J.R. Smith*, DEN - Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't he staying in China?

Jamaal Magloire, MIA - The buttock of all my jokes. Good to see you again, Jamaaaaal.

Jamal Crawford, ATL - Quick, a toilet!

Jamario Moon, LAC - Little to no tools but he can play. Not here though.

James Jones, MIA - Solely for keeping him away from everyone else, it may be worth it. I'd probably call him Jason Kapono now and again without feeling too bad about it.

Jared Jeffries, HOU - May be the most confusing player in the league.

Jason Collins, ATL - I'm fundamentally against separating twins.

Jason Kapono, PHI - HA!

Jason Richardson, ORL - Too much J-Rich.

Jason Smith, NOH - Was really good at starting prayer circles in center court post-game.

Jeff Foster, IND - I was called a dirty player in 6th grade once by a kid's mother after her son had attempted to grab me by the ankles while I was breaking upcourt. I have no concrete evidence, but Jeff Foster is probably that kid's uncle.

Jeff Green, BOS - Probably gets too much hate and not enough credit for having the last name of Green and playing for the Celtics. Wouldn't want to strip him of that, since he's RFA.

Joe Smith, LAL - "Your former number one overall pick....." Oh, Joe the stories you tell.

Joel Przybilla, CHA - Same as Gadzuric only with more consonants.

Joey Dorsey, TOR - No more Reggie Evans, for the love of God.

J.J. Barea, DAL - I see him staying with the Mavs. He was just as important as Jason Kidd in those Finals last year.

Jonas Jerebko, DET - The Pistons have far too may 6'8 wings that can't shoot great. If Thad walks, Jerebko is definitely a guy I'd target, though he is restricted. Need more Swedes.

Josh Howard, WAS - Remember the Social Network posters with Jesse Eisenberg before anyone knew the movie was actually good? That, only with bad adjectives are what I use to describe Josh Howard.

Josh McRoberts, IND - He'll forever be a Pacer.

Josh Powell, ATL - This signing would barely register on my emotive scale, but I bet he comes to Philly.

Julian Wright, TOR - Take all of the feelings I have for Brandan Wright and subtract them by one. That's what you get with Julian Wright - it could just be the last name.

Juwan Howard, MIA - He and Jamaal Magloire play canasta every Wednesday afternoon.

Who looks good from this list so far? I'm thinking Ajinca, Carter, and Julian Wright from this list. Still praying for Oden...

Stay tuned for Part Two coming up.