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Benedict Mahinmi.
Now a word from the "oh what might have been" files. Don't get me started.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/s...wFullArticle=y
DALLAS — A Spur, in spirit, since 2005 and a Spur, in fact, since 2007, Ian Mahinmi wasn't certain what to expect when he walked into his first official training camp session as a Dallas Maverick on Tuesday morning.
“When I was on the opposite side, with the Spurs, I thought these guys were all ... well, I hated them,” Mahinmi said after a Friday afternoon camp session at SMU. “But as soon as I got here and started to meet them I found they were great guys, as great as my teammates were in San Antonio.”
Mahinmi signed a free agent contract with the Mavericks in July, getting just the three-year veteran minimum, $760,000. After an injury-plagued three seasons with the Spurs, he is happy to remain in the NBA and not too far from the many friends he made in San Antonio.
Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle likes what he has seen from Mahinmi in camp but, like Gregg Popovich before him, will wait and see how the young center develops before counting on him for regular playing time.
“I like Mahinmi's knowledge of defense,” Carlisle said. “He's got a good feel for the game at both ends because he's been in a good system for a couple of years. He's getting better every day.
“Ian's just got to be consistent. I think he can be a reliable midrange shooter, and we're spending a lot of time with him to develop a consistent rhythm for his shots. That's something he's working on, and that will be part of the equation.”
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban put it simply: “The Spurs taught him defense. We'll teach him some offense.”
In short, Mahinmi remains a project, especially with the Mavericks already having a pair of 7-footers, Brendan Haywood and Tyson Chandler, manning the center position.
Mahinmi, still just 23, will be remembered by Spurs fans this season as just that: the project whose combination of size, strength and quickness teased them with potential for greatness, yet to be realized.
Officially listed at 6-foot-11, he always seemed an inch or two taller than Tim Duncan whenever the two stood side-by-side. His long arms and leaping ability made for some spectacular dunks and blocked shots, but never often enough to earn consistent playing time. In his three seasons in silver and black, Mahinmi played only 32 games, his development and opportunity obstructed by a series of injuries.
Selected by the Spurs in the first round of the 2005 draft, he was an 18-year-old so unknown he wasn't listed anywhere in the NBA's predraft media guide. The native of Rouen, France, was signed by the Spurs in 2007 and spent most of the 2007-08 season with the Spurs' Austin Toros D-League team.
The Spurs had hoped to feature Mahinmi in the 2008 preseason, but a summer ankle injury scuttled that plan and ultimately required surgery, wiping out the entire season. He was on the Spurs roster last season, but saw action in only 26 games, mostly in garbage time.
When the Spurs opted not to exercise the fourth year of Mahinmi's rookie-scale contract — it would have cost the club slightly more than $1.7 million to do so — Mahinmi understood the economics, but hoped he might remain in San Antonio.
“Pop had said they just didn't have time to evaluate me,” he recalled. “I had got hurt, and he wanted a chance to evaluate me in the real game situation. That's what he told me. He wanted to exercise the fourth year, but we need to evaluate you on the real games.
“He said they would be more than happy to offer me the same deal on the next season. That was understandable. I can't be mad at him for that.”
When free agency arrived, the Mavs came calling, the Spurs focused on signing 2007 first-round pick Tiago Splitter and Mahinmi opted for a change of venue.
“I wanted to come back to San Antonio, but then I was, like, let's open a new chapter. Dallas was interested from the start, so it was either to go back or try something new. I wanted to try something new.”
Even if it meant playing for a team he once hated.
“It's a big change for me to move from the Spurs to the Mavs,” he said. “A big change, but so far, so good.”
Benedict Mahinmi.
no, he was going nowhere with Spurs.
i hate to say it but gl in dallas ian
I wish him the best and hope he's able to tap into his potential there.
I just like giving Mahinmi a hard time.That's about all he was good for.
Come on Senor, let Mahimni go. Great physical talent, but iffy bb iq. Should of saved this thread until midway of this season. Then you can vent if Mahimni shows anything.
Good for Ian, always good to move forward to new opportunities.“I wanted to come back to San Antonio, but then I was, like, let's open a new chapter. Dallas was interested from the start, so it was either to go back or try something new. I wanted to try something new.”
Whether Ian believes that or not, doesn't matter much. But it's hard to see the rationale for the Spurs to bring him back at that rate when he'd be their sixth big and without the opportunity to play and develop. He'd be riding the bench as an insurance policy, essentially.
I don't doubt the Spurs told him they'd have no problem offering that contract to him back then when they declined the option, they had no way of knowing for sure if they'd be able to get Tiago or if any trades would be made with their current big men, but I find it highly doubtful Ian had the Spurs as an option.
In any event, I wish him the best and hope he's given the opportunity to fulfill his potential. The guy can play; he can contribute.
Hopefully I won't have to see him put together a 'New Jersey' game against the Spurs or have any kind of success defensively against Tim or anyone else. SpursTalk's foundation just isn't strong enough for that.
The Scola sitch-e-ation has compromised its structural integrity.
Was it really his choice?
I don't, not as long as we play that stupid team. I hope they all fail.
He will get a hang nail and be out 5 months.
him. He sucked anyway.
Yet, someone saw enough in him to give him another NBA contract. I really wish Ian had chosen another team, but I still hope he gets a legitimate chance to play. He's got the physical make-up to play in the NBA, he just needs to put it altogether from a consistency and mental standpoint.
Thanks for the shoutout Paco.
I've never known what it's like to be immortalized in a discussion forum.
No problem, man. Those guys in Portland are tools and you put it perfectly in your post.Thanks for the shoutout Paco.
I've never known what it's like to be immortalized in a discussion forum.
Reading from what the Mavs brass says, it seems they think of him the same as how the Spurs did.
Might have a chance if theres injuries but who knows.
He's behind Haywood and Chandler obviously on the depth chart BUT Chandler is a walking mash unit. So who knows.
We shall see if his BBall IQ has raised in Dallas or not.
Dude it's the Mavs
He's got nothing to do with the Spurs anymore. When he was here he did nothing, so I don't give a about his life with the Mavs.
Right. Despite the fact that the Mavs had interest all along, they do view him as a project. We'll see what approach Carlisle takes with him.
Cuban made a comment about him stating that "he learned defense in San Antonio. We're going to teach him about offense here."
Ian hasn't done much to warrant having any fans, pretty crazy that these scrubs have 'em
I don't see much of a role for Ian with the Mavs as well. Their coach and organization is in win-now mode instead of building projects and their center rotation has Chandler and Haywood; the former of which is on a contract year so expect him to want minutes and play better than usual (Jason Kidd's elite passing is going to be great with Chandler as well).
Last edited by Cane; 10-03-2010 at 09:14 AM.
He's a third string center on a minimum salary deal. There's really no risk in developing him. But so far it seems like he has been a bust, i mean,he's been in San Antonio like 3 years and apart from being athletic hasnt shown much..
i dont know man. every time i saw him on the court he was deflecting shot in the paint and his offensive game was solid. his biggest curse was Dejuan Blair getting drafted. those were supposed to be his minutes at center.
Yeah, I agree. It's not like the guy didn't show flashes of production. Neither we, nor the coaches, got a chance to see him much in live action. There have been plenty of guys come through here that have had "bust" written all over them. Whether it be their at ude, ability or desire. This kid has plenty of ability, seemingly works hard and has a good at ude. Whether he's able to parlay that into being an every night player, is unknown. However, it's way too premature to call him a bust.
After all, with Dice likely not being on the squad next year, the Spurs are most certain to need another big. For the Spurs sake, they'd better hope this kid doesn't blossom elsewhere. Personally, I always liked the kid and hated to see him leave. I wish him the best and hope he does well.
It's a strange situation. I almost want him to do well, to at least show flashes of what I thought he had all along. Yet he's playing for the Mavs.
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