DALLAS -- The Dallas Mavericks on Friday released 7-foot-5
Russian center Pavel Podkolzin, a former first-round pick who
played just six games in two seasons.
The move came a day after the Mavericks signed undrafted free
agent Pops Mensah-Bonsu, a 6-foot-9 forward from George Washington
who got the team's attention with solid summer league play.
Podkolzin, who was acquired from Utah after being picked 21st in
the 2004 draft, missed the first 59 games of last season with a
broken right foot. He averaged 0.7 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.5
blocks in 4.7 minutes in his six games. He spent some time with
Fort Worth of the NBDL but was no longer eligible to play there.
"Pavel has made big strides and had a very bright future, but
at 21 years of age, playing experience is imperative to his
development," said Donnie Nelson, Dallas' president of basketball
operations.