It’s not the first time the Dallas Mavericks will have scooped up a big man left to the wayside by inner-state rival San Antonio.
Dallas!!!!! Now lets have some fun!!!!
— DeJuan Blair (@DeJuan45) July 30, 2013
In the summer of 2010, the Mavs signed French center Ian Mahinmi who had played sparingly in two seasons while sporting the black and silver. This time it appears 24-year-old DeJuan Blair (@DeJuan45) will make the flip from Tim Duncan’s squad to Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavs.
Blair was a talented college player at Pittsburgh, but concern with his unique case of NOT having anterior crucial ligaments in either knee saw him fall into the 2009 NBA Draft’s second round where the Spurs selected him 37th overall.
Over his four seasons with San Antonio Blair averaged 7.8 points and 5.8 rebounds on 52.8% shooting. He’s averaged 18.9 minutes per game as a Spur and his effectiveness comes on the glass, creating second chance opportunities and his physical style of play. According to ShamSports, Blair’s per 36-minute stats last season were 13.9 points and 9.7 rebounds shooting 52.4%.
DeJuan Blair’s contract with the Dallas Mavericks will likely be a one-year deal worth the veteran’s minimum, according to a source.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 30, 2013
Kennedy also mentioned the Mavs and Spurs had some discussions about a sign-and-trade involving Blair. Other teams were interested in the power forward, but the playing time and fit seemed best in Dallas.
Expect Blair to see plenty of backup minutes behind Dirk. This will allow the recently re-signed Brandan Wright to primarily play as the backup to Samuel Dalembert. Also, it allows Shawn Marion to play most of his minutes at small forward and less at backup 4, although at times he’ll still take the role.
The Mavs front-court isn’t looking so barren as it did a week or two ago. Dallas has now surrounded Nowitzki with the return of Wright and Bernard James, Dalembert and DeJuan Blair.
Well done Mavs, well done.
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