Offseason questions: Can Brand, Kaman recapture their L.A. days together?
Earl K. Sneed writes that new additions Chris Kaman and Elton Brand will need to recapture their heydays from Los Angeles together in order to help lead the Dallas Mavericks back to the NBA title.
Offseason questions: Can Brand, Kaman recapture their L.A. days together?
Together they were a major part of the resurgence of the Los Angeles Clippers, leading the franchise to the postseason in the 2005-06 season.
Now, Chris Kaman and Elton Brand will try to help lead the Dallas Mavericks back to the promise land while adding to a frontline that already features 11-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki.
After missing out in their attempt at landing All-Star point guard Deron Williams in free agency, the Mavericks’ front office made a quick U-turn and nabbed the former All-Star center Kaman, reuniting him with German National Team compatriot Nowitzki.
The Mavs weren’t done there.
Continuing a summer of off-season moves that included a sign-and-trade of backup center Ian Mahinmi to Indiana for guards Darren Collison and Dahntay Jones before also inking O.J. Mayo, the Mavs won the bidding for Brand to claim the big man off amnesty waivers as well following his release from Philadelphia.
And with starting center Brendan Haywood also amnestied by the Mavs to clear up financial space, the stage is set for both Kaman and Brand to play vital roles this season as the team tries to rebound from a first-round series sweep at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Talent is certainly not a question when it comes to either player. But can the duo recapture their heydays now that they are in Big D?
That’s the question that remains to be answered, but it is certainly the hope for a team itching to return to the elite status that captured the 2011 NBA title.
In Brand, the Mavs get the former National Player of the Year at Duke and No. 1 overall pick of Chicago in the 1999 Draft. Starting 830 of his 860 professional outings for Chicago, the Clippers and eventually Philly, the two-time All-Star and Second Team All-NBA selection in ‘05-06 holds career averages of 18.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.9 blocks and 36.3 minutes per game while shooting slightly better than 50 percent from the field.
Last season with the 76ers, Brand started all 60 of his appearances while averaging 11.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.6 blocks and 28.9 minutes. But now the 6-9, 255-pounder is expected to assume a reserve role behind Nowitzki and Kaman, possibly strengthening a Dallas bench that relied greatly on the departing Jason Terry for scoring.
As for Kaman, he will try to return to the level he displayed in 2009-10, making his lone All-Star appearance when he averaged 18.5 points and 9.3 boards in 76 appearances. After spending his first eight seasons with the Clippers, the 30-year-old 7-footer averaged 13.1 points and 7.7 rebounds in 47 appearances with the New Orleans Hornets last season while battling health concerns.
Now, the bruised left tibia injury to his lower left leg that ended his season seems to be behind him as he hopes a change of scenery and reunion with Nowitzki and Brand revitalizes his career.
And with both possessing interior skills that haven’t accompanied Nowitzki’s inside-out game since he arrived in Dallas, Kaman and Brand figure to bolster a team that ranked 26th in points in the paint (37.3 per game), 19th in points per game (95.8) and 11th in rebounding (42.8) a season ago.
