Dallas Mavericks Blog – Page 63 – NBA Blog

Dallas Mavericks waive Tu Holloway and DJ Mbenga

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have waived Tu Holloway and DJ Mbenga. Both Holloway and Mbenga were signed as free agents on September 27.

Holloway (6-0, 190) played collegiately at Xavier University and went undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft. In his four years as a Musketeer, he played in 134 games and held career averages of 13.7 points, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals per contest. As a junior, Holloway was Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and earned Third Team All-America honors from the Associated Press while averaging 19.7 points and 5.4 assists a game.

Mbenga (7-0, 240) is native of Congo who was originally signed by Dallas as a rookie free agent on July 14, 2004 after playing with the Mavericks summer league squad. In his first stint with Dallas he saw action in 79 games averaging 1.3 points and 0.9 rebounds. Mbenga was waived by Dallas on Oct. 30, 2007. Since his time in Dallas, Mbenga has played for Golden State, L.A. Lakers and New Orleans. He holds career averages of 1.8 points and 1.5 rebounds in 234 games (4 starts).

The Mavericks’ training camp roster now stands at 16 players.

Elton Brand expects to be Mavs enforcer

The Mavericks need somebody willing to do the dirty work in the paint. It doesn’t take a Duke education to figure that out.

Elton Brand, a first overall pick out of Duke and former All-Star, basically announced himself as willing and able to play the enforcer role.

“I’m definitely going to have to anchor the defense, bring toughness,” the 6-foot-9, 254-pound Brand said. “I’m not proud of it, but I think I led the league in flagrant fouls last year. You’ve got to bring that. In order to win, you’ve got to do those kind of things, protect that paint.”

Actually, Brand led the league in flagrant fouls in 2010-11, but you get his point.

— Reported by Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas

Mavs center Chris Kaman has lower back sprain

The Mavericks just finished up their first preseason practice and the only bad news came when center Chris Kaman had to leave the workout, coach Rick Carlisle said.

“It was a really good practice,” Carlilse said. “We had one casualty. Kaman went out with a sprained lower back. Not considered serious. So we’ll see how he’s doing tonight and tomorrow and go from there.”

Kaman’s injury would not be considered anything more than a blip were it not for his recent history with physical problems. He missed 19 of 66 games last season and 50 of 82 in 2010-11 with various ailments, mostly knee troubles.

— Reported by Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News

Mavericks re-up services of team doctor

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have extended the contract of long time Dallas Mavericks team physician, Dr. T.O. Souryal.

Souryal, in his 20th season with the Mavericks, signed a five-year extension with the team. He also serves as the medical director at Texas Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Group and was recently named by US News and World Report as one of the top 1% of all orthopaedic surgeons in the country.

“I am grateful to Mark Cuban and the entire Mavericks organization for giving me this opportunity to work with such an elite organization,” Souryal said. “The cutting edge technology that we use with the Mavericks players is a benefit to all my patients.”

Mavs hope Dominique Jones can rise up

Like every NBA team, the Mavericks are always on the lookout for a breakout player, somebody who takes a significant leap in production from the previous season.

Dominique Jones, who is entering his third season, appears to be the early leading candidate for that distinction.

Reports from the daily pickup games on the Mavericks’ practice court are that the guard has been one of the most eye-catching players.

It’s always dangerous to put too much stock in summertime showings, but Jones seems to have figured some things out after two mostly unproductive seasons.

“Dominique’s been playing great,” said Carlisle, a frequent watcher of the informal workouts. “It’s going to be extremely competitive in the backcourt. He has had a really good summer.”

— Reported by Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News

Dirk Nowitzki excited about Mavs overhaul, says knee is good to go

First, he’s not the least bit disheartened by the moves — or lack of marquee moves — the Mavericks made this summer. In fact, he’s encouraged about the possibilities with training camp opening this week.

Second, and more important, Nowitzki feels wonderful physically. His right knee that gave him such trouble during the first half of the shortened season in 2011-12 no longer is a concern to him.

That’s huge.

“I tried to keep in shape all summer long so that it would not be hard to pick up my usual training routine,” Nowitzki said in an email interview. “I feel great. My knees feel fine, and that’s important. I am ready to go.”

Nowitzki has been working out extensively in Germany with his friend and mentor, Holger Geschwindner. Nowitzki, 34, had an eventful off-season. He got married in July and while the honeymoon is still going, it hasn’t stopped the 11-time all-star from making sure that a repeat of last season doesn’t happen.

— Reported by Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News

O.J. Mayo amazed by Dirk Nowitzki`s work ethic

After arriving in Dallas a month ago to work on his game, O.J. Mayo was stunned to see a certain 7-foot German dude sweating on the American Airlines Center practice court.

Rest assured that there won’t be a repeat of a rusty, out-of-shape Dirk Nowitzki showing up at training camp.

“He was in here working out and staying in shape,” Mayo said. “It was a crazy, crazy thing to see because he’s a franchise player and he was here early like it’s his first or second year. I think that’s enough said there.”

— Reported by Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas

Jason Kidd will fight DWI charge

New York Knicks point guard Jason Kidd intends to fight a charge that he was drunk when he crashed his SUV into a telephone pole in the Hamptons over the summer, his lawyer said Wednesday.

Kidd, wearing a navy pinstriped suit and tie, said “good morning” to reporters outside Southampton Town Court on Long Island. But he didn’t speak as he stood, back straight, facing the judge during his brief procedural appearance.

When asked about the allegations, attorney Edward Burke Jr. told reporters, “We are defending that.”

— Reported by the Associated Press

Rafael Hettsheimeir not close to being a Maverick

While taking in the basketball hall of fame enshrinement, several members of the Mavericks’ front office were on hand and as president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said, the Mavericks have a roster full with 15 players possessing guaranteed contracts.

That leaves little room for Brazil’s Rafael Hettsheimeir, a 6-10, 260-pound center who has drawn the attention of several NBA teams. The 26-year-old plays in the Spanish League and some international reports have suggested that the Mavericks have offered him a deal.

— Reported by Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News

Could Dirk Nowitzki really be done in two years?

Nothing has changed for Nowitzki in terms of how he views his basketball future once this contract expires. He has consistently said since he signed the four-year, $80 million deal that it could be his last NBA contract.

Nowitzki’s loyalty to the Mavs, and Cuban, hasn’t wavered. He made that clear later during his impromptu weekend Twitter Q&A when asked why he doesn’t try to jump to a so-called super team.

“I bleed blue,” Nowitzki replied.

Maybe the quality of the Mavs’ roster will influence Nowitzki’s decision on whether to continue his career into his late 30s. Maybe he’ll figure he needs to play for a legitimate contender to muster the competitive fire at that point in life.

— Reported by Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas