mavs get a center

scotsman13 · July 26th, 2004, 12:44 PM

DALLAS - The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have acquired center Calvin Booth from the Seattle Supersonics in exchange for forward Danny Fortson.

Booth (7-0, 241) is entering his sixth NBA season and is joining the Mavericks for the second time in his career. The Reynoldsburg, Ohio native played in 15 games for Dallas during the 2000-01 season and averaged 7.5 ppg on .548 shooting, 4.8 rpg and 2.00 bpg. He also played in all 10 Mavericks playoff games that season.

Booth saw action in 71 games last season with Seattle starting 35 times and averaging 4.9 ppg and 3.9 rpg in 17.0 mpg. He also led the Sonics in blocked shots averaging 1.42 blocks per contest. During the 2000-01 season, Booth led the NBA by averaging 5.71 blocks per 48 minutes.

The former Penn State standout was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 1998 and was drafted 35th overall by the Washington Wizards in the 1999 NBA Draft. He also won a gold medal at the 2001 Goodwill Games as a member of Team USA.

Fortson is leaving Dallas after one season with the Mavericks. The 6-8 forward played in 56 games last season while averaging 3.9 ppg and 4.5 rpg in 11.2 minutes per contest.

fordronken · July 26th, 2004, 12:47 PM

Good deal for the Mavs, I think. Fortson will be good Collison insurance for Seattle, though.

George O'Brien · July 26th, 2004, 12:57 PM

Looks like a good deal for both teams. Fortson was huge disappointment for the untempo Mavs after some fairly good years with GS. Booth never could live up to his contract with Seattle, but will have a new start in Dallas. At worst it is one bad contract for another.

I would not be surprised if this means the Sonics may want to shop Radmanovic. With Fortson and Collison at PF, Radmanovic (6'10" 234) may not get as many minutes: 30 minutes a game, 12.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 42.5% from the field and 37.5% for three.

DevonCardsFan · July 26th, 2004, 01:20 PM

Thats the cheap shot artist, Fortson. He is the guy who pushed Cabarkapa like a punk. I wish there was a guy on the Suns who would have socked that guy.

NJYAJ09 · July 26th, 2004, 01:54 PM

Yeah, I'll never forgive Fortson for the wack job he did on Cabarkapa.

elindholm · July 26th, 2004, 06:31 PM

According to hoopshype, the Mavericks also recently signed someone named Didier Ilunga-Mbenga to a two-year deal, using their million-dollar exception. He is listed at 7' 0", 220, and is 23 years old. Hoopshype describes him as a "very good shot blocker" with "no offensive game."

thegrahamcrackr · July 26th, 2004, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elindholm

According to hoopshype, the Mavericks also recently signed someone named Didier Ilunga-Mbenga to a two-year deal, using their million-dollar exception. He is listed at 7' 0", 220, and is 23 years old. Hoopshype describes him as a "very good shot blocker" with "no offensive game."

A raw center that is "a very good shot blocker" is also usually a "foul out machine" who gets "absolutely no playing time"

See Trybanski (btw, can you believe the team shop told me they didn't carry any Cezary Trybanski jerseys???)

F-Dog · July 26th, 2004, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrahamcrackr

A raw center that is "a very good shot blocker" is also usually a "foul out machine" who gets "absolutely no playing time"

See Trybanski (btw, can you believe the team shop told me they didn't carry any Cezary Trybanski jerseys???)

I bet he gets more minutes than Pavel Podkolzine next season. (Mbenga, not Trybanski.)