The Dallas Mavericks Add Von Wafer to Revamped Lineup
In a period of a few weeks, the Dallas Mavericks have transformed themselves from early round playoff fodder for the West's elite to a potential challenger to the Lakers and Nuggets.The Mavs rid themselves of pregame drinker Josh Howard while at the same time landing an All-Star caliber player and tough perimeter defender in Caron Butler, as well as a useful big man in Brendan Haywood.With All-Star Dirk Nowitzki, veteran point guard Jason Kidd, who's arguably the best in the NBA at making everyone around him better, defensive-minded bigs in Haywood and Erick Dampier (when healthy), the Mavs just needed a bit of bench scoring to go with J.J. Barea and Roddy Beaubois.They looked overseas to former Houston Rocket Von Wafer to fill that role, signing him to a 10-day contract on Feb. 24. Wafer, who signed in Europe after not finding an offer to his liking as a free agent this past offseason, averaged nearly 10 points per game as a sixth man for the Rockets, a playoff team last season.Wafer also gives the Mavs another good three-point shooter — Nowitzki, Butler, Barea and even Kidd, who's become a much better shooter late in his career can all knock down shots from deep regularly.The Mavs have seriously upgraded their roster, adding three valuable pieces (if Wafer works out) without subtracting any key contributors or giving up their coveted young guard Beaubois.
