<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>It's slim pickings for free-agent centers, and if all those Chris Paul-to-Tyson Chandler alley-oop dunks in the first round of the playoffs suggested anything, it's that the Mavs, after including DeSagana Diop in the February trade to New Jersey for Jason Kidd, are in dire need of interior defense. Those factors could more than double Diop's $2.2 million salary and net him the Mavs' entire mid-level exception, expected to be valued between $5.5 million and $5.7 million. "It would not shock me," Donnie Nelson, Mavs president of basketball operations, said of Diop commanding the entire mid-level exception. "Centers are going to be pricier."</div> Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Dallas won't be able to compete with the top teams in the West if their interior defense issues aren't solved. Dampier has his moments, but at the same time, he can be such a liability. I'm all for getting Diop back, but giving him the full MLE is just reaching. $5 million for a center that won't have any offensive presence. Then again, it seems like the Mavericks have no choice. They're pretty desperate.
What else are they going to spend the MLE on? The goal is winning a title, and they need him or a player with his defensive prowess to have a shot.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Joker @ Jul 1 2008, 01:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Which big men are currently out on the market? I'm too out of it to find the list.</div> Ones of note are (all unrestricted): Jamaal Magloire Theo Ratliff Patrick O'Bryant (who knows?) DJ Mbenga Alonzo Mourning Kwame Brown (you don't want him) Kurt Thomas Promoz Brezec and Diop
Minnesota should go for Diop to help Minnesota with his interior D. When they play big lineups. Diop can start at center (of course) while Big Al can shift to his natural PF slot, with Love coming off the bench...niiiiice
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Saying only that big men “are priceier”, Mavs GM Donnie Nelson wouldn’t deny that his boss, Mark Cuban, is ready to offer DeSagana Diop the full $5.6 million mid level exception when free agency opens Tuesday. Diop has said he would like to sign with either the Nets or his old team, although others, most notably the Heat, may also have interest.</div> Source
