Inside Report: Practice Report — Mavs await expected Brewer signing, Chandler's absence felt

Earl K. Sneed reports from the Mavericks' Thursday practice, where the team prepared for the Indiana Pacers while also awaiting word of the expected free-agent signing of Corey Brewer.

DALLAS — There was a sense of excitement at the Mavericks’ Thursday practice as the team patiently awaited the announcement of swingman Corey Brewer’s expected free-agent signing later in the day.

While waiting on Brewer to clear waivers to make his inking of a multi-year deal official, the Mavericks returned to the practice court fresh off a 3-0 road trip and a seventh straight win, riding high after a 17-1 stretch in the last 18 games. And with the pending signing on the horizon, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle shared in his team’s excitement with an opportunity to add the No. 7 pick in the 2007 draft for a discounted rate in the middle of the season.

“He’s a different kind of player than we have — different body type,” Carlisle said of the 6-foot-9 Brewer. “He’s a wing player that is long, athletic and very fast. Everyone is aware that he was a top pick a couple of years ago in the draft. He played on two national championship teams, so he knows how to win. There were other teams that offered him more money to come to them, but I think he looked at our situation and he likes what our team looks like. He’s got an opportunity to help us this year, and this is one of those situations where at this point if we can get a guy who can help us situational or if he ends up playing more, if he can help us get one stop at the right time then it’s a good move for us.”

After receiving a buyout following Minnesota’s shipment of Brewer to New York via the three-team trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to the Big Apple, Carlisle says that he hopes the budding pro can find a home in Dallas. Brewer has made his mark as a defensive specialist in his young NBA career, and Carlisle and his players agree that the former Florida standout will likely be called upon to guard the Kobe Bryants, Manu Ginobilis and Kevin Durants of the Western Conference.

But the coach also adds that the Mavs love Brewer’s upside offensively, adding that his youthful explosiveness could be utilized both this year and for seasons to come.

“If we didn’t like his upside and what he’s done in his career to this point we wouldn’t be pursuing him like we have. It’s a very good move for the franchise, both short and long term. We’re talking about a young kid that’s got a chance to continue to get better. And from what we know about him, some of our guys know him and some of our coaches know him, he’s a terrific kid and a hard worker and an energetic guy, so he fits in,” Carlisle said.

“I think he’s gonna fit in nice,” leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki added. “He’s a hard worker as far as I’ve heard. He’s a good guy, and that’s what we always look for. He’s gonna fit in the locker room and we’re gonna make him feel welcomed … We’re gonna try to make it as easy as we can on him.”

Like Nowitzki mentioned, the Mavericks’ veteran players say they will do all they can to assist the soon to be 25-year-old in becoming acclimated in his new surroundings on the fly, with just 22 games remaining before the postseason. And even sixth man Jason Terry says that he’s ready to welcome in his new teammate with open arms, even after suffering a broken orbital bone and requiring facial surgery after Brewer’s inadvertent elbow struck the sharpshooter exactly a year ago to the day of Brewer’s expected signing — with the surgery coincidently falling on Brewer’s birthday — in a game between the Mavs and the Timberwolves last season.

“He didn’t do it intentionally, so it’s all good,” Terry said, dismissing any bad blood between the two. “This kid is a good kid who works hard, and obviously us veterans will rub off on him. And he’ll get the sense of what he’s walking into once he walks through the door.”

With Brewer apparently set to join the squad, the Mavs turned their attention to more pressing matters, facing an Indiana Pacers team on Friday night and doing so without the services of starting center Tyson Chandler, after the big man suffered a sprained right ankle in the Mavs’ 101-93 road win in Philly on Tuesday night.

Going through the first practice without the team’s spiritual leader, Terry says that Chandler’s absence was felt immediately. But with a collective effort from the reserve center duo of Brendan Haywood and Ian Mahinmi, the Mavericks believe that they will be able to manage until Chandler makes his return to the court.

“Missing Tyson is not only on the court but it’s his emotional spirit. If something happens in the game you always hear Tyson, ‘Come on, man, let’s get it together.’ You always hear his voice. So, hopefully he’ll still be on the bench,” Terry explained. ”Not hearing his voice, it’s gonna be a tough adjustment, but Mahinmi and Brendan Haywood are up to the task and they’re gonna get the job down.”

Note: The team will return to Dallas and host the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, looking to split the season series. The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. CT, airing locally on Fox Sports Southwest. Great seats are still available and tickets can be purchased by visiting the American Airlines Center box office, logging on to Mavs.com or by calling 214-747-MAVS (6287).

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