Mavericks Land Juwan Howard

Remember how the Mavericks went after Chris Webber earlier this summer? Well, they eventually settled for another former Fab Fiver, Juwan Howard, recently freed by the Timberwolves. It's not yet official -- there's still the technicality of passing through waivers -- but he should be signed and delivered sometime tomorrow. From the team's official site:

"Juwan was too big of an opportunity to pass up," president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson told mavs.com. "Juwan is a winner, he's a leader and he knows the Maverick way.

"He can swing from the '4' to '5,' so it gives us tremendous flexibility on the frontline."

Of course, it's not like the a title contender like the Mavs were flush with available roster spots: someone had to be let loose, and that someone was DJ Mbenga, the fourth-year center who missed most of last year recovering from a torn ACL. It's a tough break for Mbenga, but he is seven-foot tall, which leads me to believe he'll pack up his turntables and find gainful employment as a professional baller soon enough, whether it's on this side of the ocean or the other.