ESPN: Alexis Ajinca Could Be Traded Quickly

Marc Stein reports that recently obtained Alexi Ajinca could be headed back out of town in short order. Ajinca’s agent has apparently asked the club to pursue a move.

It doesn’t figure to be an acrimonious situation if Ajinca hangs around, but since both Ndiaye clients are at best bidding to be Dallas’ No. 3 center behind recent re-signee/presumed starter Brendan Haywood and marquee newcomer Tyson Chandler, ESPNDallas.com has learned that the Mavericks have been asked to shop Ajinca in the hope they can find a team that might be able to offer him more hope for minutes.

Ajinca is owed $1.467 million this season but has a team option for 2011-12 and a team qualifier for 2012-13, so a little value can be derived as a sort of expiring contract, particularly 60 days after the recent trade that sent him to Dallas. After that time, he can be included in a larger deal.

Donnie Nelson: Tyson Chandler Is A Better Fit Than Al Jefferson

Donnie Nelson claims while that financial flexibility and asset retention are factors, Tyson Chandler is simply a better fit than Al Jefferson for the Mavericks, according to Tim McMahon.

In fact, he went so far as to proclaim that the addition of Chandler gives the Mavs a much better chance to challenge the Lakers, noting that Chandler has the size and athleticism to defend on the block, play the pick-and-roll or bother face-up big men.

“When we do something, all of our sights are set on Los Angeles,” Nelson said. “We’ve got somebody we can throw at [Pau] Gasol now.”

While Dallas has shored up their center rotation, there is still a need for power forward help, after the club missed out on free agent Al Harrington.

Mike Fisher: Mavericks May Add $7 Million In Trade Exceptions Through Deal

Mike Fisher of DallasBasketball.com suggests that the Mavericks may have obtained two trade exceptions totalling over $7 million.

I wrote this earlier today, and while I don’t yet have confirmation, I’m sticking with it for now: Somewhere around $3 mil + $4.3 mil in Trade Exceptions might be coming the Mavs’ way.

The Mavericks also hold a small trade exception obtained in the Kris Humphries trade in January.

Mavs Acquire Centers Tyson Chandler And Alexis Ajinca From Bobcats For Erick Dampier, Matt Carroll, And Eduardo Najera

After failing in their bid to sign free-agent big man Udonis Haslem, the Dallas Mavericks turned to a trade to add depth to their front line. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports the Mavs landed Tyson Chandler and Alexis Ajinca, two centers, from the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for Erick Dampier's expiring contract, Matt Carroll, and Eduardo Najera. Wojnarowski says the two teams are now on the phone with the league office "to finalize [the] deal."

Chandler, the centerpiece to the deal, is a nine-year defense-and-rebounding specialist who averaged 6.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 22.8 minutes per game for the Bobcats last season. Though he's an upgrade over Dampier, he is an injury risk, having missed 68 games over the last two seasons. He and Brendan Haywood, whom Dallas re-signed last week, will form a stout defensive front. He is owed $12.6 million this season, the last of his deal.

The Bobcats made Ajinca, now 22, the 20th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. In 37 games at the NBA level, the seven-footer has averaged 2.2 points and 0.9 rebounds in just over five minutes per game, on 38% shooting. He fared much better in the D-League, posting per-game averages of 13.7 points, 7.3 boards, and 2.7 blocked shots. He showed flashes of improvement in last week's Orlando Pro Summer League.

The deal costs Dallas Dampier, perhaps the league's most desirable trade chip due to his $13 million deal, which is fully unguaranteed; Charlotte can merely waive him and pocket the savings. Carroll and Najera played sparingly in Dallas last season, appearing in 25 and 33 games, respectively. The deal sends Carroll back to the Bobcats, from whom the Mavs acquired him in January 2009 in the DeSagana Diop trade. He is owed $11.7 million over the next three seasons, which makes losing him a plus for Dallas.