What? You thought I'd find a photo of Brendan Haywood?
The Dallas Mavericks did very little to change their team in the off-season. One position they didn't neglect is center.They re-signed one guy and brought in three others that can play the position. Play the position well or stay healthy enough for it to matter? That's a whole different story.
Brendan Haywood
As of February of last year, I knew that the Dallas Mavericks would overpay for Brendan Haywood. On paper, he was everything they've always wanted. However, we went through the same bullshit with Erick Dampier. I predicted four years, $44 million. It was six and $54 million. So, I'm the idiot. In two years, we will officially hate Brendan Haywood. Get ready for a stream of six point, six rebound, six foul games.
Tyson Chandler
As I bitched about Haywood, friends would ask, as if I didn't have an answer, "Well, who would you get?" My reply was a sign-and-trade for Tyson Chandler. Of course, the Mavs used this most "valuable" Erick Dampier trade chip to do it. I thought you could probably get Chandler for less, but the Mavericks' inability to truly take another team to the cleaners is apparent. I like Chandler. He plays above the rim, which is actually what makes Jason Kidd valuable. Kidd's fine playing with guys who stand 20 feet from the basket, but if you want to actually maximize his value, get guys that run the floor, can catch a basketball and slam dunk the goddamn thing. That's, hopefully, what Chandler means.
Alexis Ajinca
Let's see: Former first-round pick by the Charlotte Bobcats? Check. Played total of 37 games in two seasons? Check. Despite being 7-1, averaging less than a rebound a game? Check. Getting paid $1.3 million? Check. Your 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks.
