Gooden at Center Makes Mavs Better

Now with his seventh NBA team, Drew Gooden has played a variety of roles in his much-traveled NBA career. He is about to have a new one -- starting center for a Western Conference contender, according to a radio report cited by DallasBasketball.com.

When Gooden was signed as a free agent this summer by the Dallas Mavericks, it was widely assumed that he was coming mostly to provide depth in the front court for a veteran team still hoping to make a final push before it starts to rebuild.

That just wasn't true, apparently.

Much to the dismay of Erick Dampier, last season's starting center, Gooden now will open training camp perceived as the key to a smaller, more versatile lineup with him assuming a starter's role. This just might give them a chance to reach the conference final.

To everyone's surprise this week, first general manager Donnie Nelson talked about Dampier coming off the bench, then coach Rick Carlisle confirmed that Dampier is no longer considered the team's starter.

"Our plan is to start Gooden at center on most nights,'' Carlisle said in a segment on Dallas radio station The Ticket, according to DB.com's Mike Fisher. "Things can change. And when we play a guy like Shaq, Damp probably will start.''

With so few good true centers in the West and only one Shaq, moving Gooden from forward to center makes sense for the Mavs, who won 50 games last season but lost to Denver in the first round of the playoffs.

Gooden has averaged 12 points and 7.9 rebounds through stops Memphis, Orlando, Cleveland, Chicago, Sacramento and San Antonio. He will be playing in an improved lineup that also includes newly-acquired Shawn Marion, along with Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard. They won't be as big as the Lakers, but without Dampier slowing them down, they could be quicker and more athletic overall.

They might be a good dark horse pick to come out of the West if the Lakers somehow stumble. They could be real good defensively if they buy into Carlisle's system.

Gooden still has a good low-post game, runs well and knows how to rebound. He can score without plays being run for him. He also sports the league's most intriguing facial hair, which makes him one of our favorites.