Trade Deadline Series: Mavs’ Player Value – Samuel Dalembert

Welcome to the fifth installment of our series, in which we are looking at each Mavericks player and their value on the trade market with other teams. Be sure to check back every day as we count down towards the trade deadline.

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Samuel Dalembert

Is the weakest link in the Mavs starting 5 already maxed out on market value, or can the Mavs realistically deal the Center? 

Salary:

$3,700,748

Age:

32 years 9 months

Season Stats:

6.3 PPG – 6.3 RPG – 0.4 APG

Potential: 

His best days are no doubt behind him but could start on a fringe-playoff team, be a valuable limited minutes reserve for a Championship contender.

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Trade Value:

The Mavs signed the 6-foot-11, 250-pound Dalembert to be their starting center, however going strictly off the numbers, that shouldn’t be the case. Compared to his back up DeJuan Blair, Dalembert is putting up weaker numbers both outright and adjusted for minutes.  Dalembert does however provide intangibles that can’t really be measured by stats, providing rim protection and solid interior post defense (which has really come on since February as rolled around) for a starting lineup loaded with offensive potential but flawed defensively. Dalembert, after initially having a great hold on the starting Center spot, began to frequently drift in and out of the first 5 in with the return of Brandan Wright (Dalembert started only 4 of 12 games in the month of December and averaged only 16.3 MPG in that span). The Mavs are his fifth team in five years (with stops in Philadelphia, Sacramento, Houston, and Milwaukee) but his per-minute rebounding and shot-blocking numbers are still solid enough to be a contributor for a playoff caliber team. He’s a limited offensive player but he understands and accepts his role to set screens, rebound and catch and finish around the basket which he has sharply improved as off late (averaging around 10 PPG and 8 RPG in the month of February). Dalembert signed this summer for a two-year, $7.6 million deal with the Mavs after the free-agency frenzy has died down. The second season includes only $1.8 million in guaranteed money. The one thing that might make his contract a little less attractive to trade would be that it is indeed 2 years long, not many rebuilding teams or fringe playoff teams would want to commit to a soon to be 33 year old that they would most likely use off the bench. Due to this, Dalembert’s trade value is probably pretty low, most likely the Mavs could only be able to receive a 2^nd round pick in return or cash. If the Mavs were to demand a player in return, they’d most likely want a young prospect in return (such as Bismack Biyombo from the Bobcats or even Meyers Leonard from the Blazers, both have similar contracts the Dalembert).

Although Dalembert might be able to yield some type of decent value on the trade market, it’s most likely in the best interest of the team to keep him as solid role playing starting center that has grown to co-exist nicely with superstar Dirk Nowitzki. He might not have the best of statistics but Coach Rick Carlisle has really made the most of him by converting him into a more efficient defensive minded player (he is on pace to take the least amount of jump shots than ever this season). Time will tell if the Mavs do decide to deal the Center although that would be very surprising in any scenario.

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Days until trade deadline: 6 days

Stay tuned!