http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...vs/stories/070306dnspomavsbriefs.186dde8.html Mavs' Mbenga Gets Multiyear Deal 3rd July, 2006 - 1:22 am Dallas Morning News - The Mavericks have come to terms with backup center D.J. Mbenga on a multiyear contract, the Dallas Morning News is reporting. Mbenga has been with the team for two seasons. He earned $880,000 last season. Terms of the new deal were not disclosed. Mbenga can't sign the agreement until July 12, per free-agency rules. The Mavericks were impressed with the way the 7-footer improved as the season went on. He's one of the most athletic centers in the league and still is learning the game. Mbenga appeared in 43 games last season and averaged more than five blocked shots per 48 minutes played. Meanwhile, plenty of competition has cropped up in the Mavericks' pursuit of Raptors guard Mike James, arguably the top free-agent guard left on the market. The Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets , among others, are pursuing the 6-2 guard, who averaged 20.3 points for Toronto this season. Because of the high interest, James and agent Bill Duffy appear to be in no hurry to accept the Mavericks' offer of their $5 million mid-level exception, or any other offer. The Hawks, who are under the cap, may outprice the Rockets and Mavericks after they missed out on Clipper Sam Cassell, who agreed to re-sign in Los Angeles.
there's something decidedy scary about the possibility of missing out on mike james. he's the third scorer we need, and he's the only hope of getting one of those we really have left, at least on the immediate horizon. we lost him once , lets not lose him again.
I'm more afraid of chasing him and him pulling a Beltran on the Rockets. I think the Rockets need to give him an early deadline, if he doesn't accept, let him go to the Hawks. Really, the Hawks are the perfect situation for him and his ego. He gets to be the man, they'll pay him significantly more than the MLE, and he gets to help "develop" young, promising talent.
uh oh, I can't figure out whether you thought I was serious or whether you're pretending to think I was serious. ::head explodes::
DJ Bingo got a multi-year deal? Amazing! I thought the Knicks would go after him and drastically overpay.
If DJ Mbenga is worthy of his own thread then anybody is. Next time there's a "Hey, let's trade Yao for Andrei Kirilenko" thread I promise I won't say a word.
I had really close seats behind the basket for a game against Dallas this past year (during the time that Rafer and Howard took turns being the best player on the roster) and the Mavs were up big so Mbenga came in. Man he is a physical specimen. Dude is huge and ripped and looks mean. He also looks pretty athletic but seemed oretty confused most of the time. It was the first time Chuck Hayes played for us, too, and Mbenga basically put him in a headlock when they were going for a rebound.
