Mavericks Bid Farewell to Erick Dampier in 5-Player Trade
Erick Dampier will not be finishing his career with the Dallas Mavericks.
The team announced on this afternoon that they have traded the the 14 year veteran center, along with Eduardo Najera and Matt Carroll to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for Centers Tyson Chandler and Alexis Ajinca.
The five player deal features Chandler, a nine year veteran selected second overall back in 2001 out of Dominguez High School in Compton, California, who played for Chicago, New Orleans and Charlotte with a career average of 8.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.4 blocks. Chandler’s best season was in 2008 when he averaged 11.8 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 1.0 assists.
Some may not see Chandler as the prototypical ‘big’ man but he is 
aggressive with the basketball and can get up and down the floor. He should fit in the front line well with Brendan Haywood, who re-signed with the Mavs last week for 6 years and $55 million.
About Chandler, Mavs General Manager and President Donnie Nelson said “He is one of the most versatile big men in the league today. He gives our front line a defensive, shot-blocking, athletic punch we haven’t had here in awhile.”
And we will see how Ajinca will fit in to the Mavs’ plans (if he will, indeed) but Nelson thinks he has a “significant upside.”
It’s an end to a six year stay for Dampier, who came to Dallas via a sign-and-trade with Golden State on August 24, 2004. Dampier was the third-longest tenured Maverick behind Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry. He leaves the Mavs ranking seventh in rebounds (3,211), fourth in offensive rebounds (1,224), seventh in defensive rebounds (1,715), first in field goal percentage (.591) and fourth in blocks (546).
Najera was in his second stint with the Mavericks and Carroll just finished his first full season after being acquired from Charlotte on January 16, 2009
“We wish Erick, Eddie and Matt nothing but the very best,” Nelson said. “They are consummate professionals that represented the Mavericks family with class and integrity.
Meanwhile, Mavs owner Mark Cuban gave a shout-out to his new players via twitter: “welcome to the Mavs Tyson Chandler and Alex Ajinca!”
© 2010 The Sports Diva