Don't get too giddy if and when the Dallas Mavericks sign free-agent forward Corey Brewer today. Decent player at both ends of the court, but it's basically one more attempt to fill in the gaps left by the absence of Caron Butler.
Maybe with the additions of Peja Stojakovic, Roddy Beaubois and Brewer, the Mavs can be as good as they were with Butler before Christmas. That team ran off a 17-1 stretch to climb to 24-5. This team -- sans Butler after his January 1 season-ending injury -- has produced another 17-1 stretch to put some heat on the San Antonio Spurs for the best record in the NBA's Western Conference.
The good news: Center Tyson Chandler's sprained ankle is no biggie, as he'll miss only two games and that shouldn't be significant considering Dallas' next two are at home against the Pacers and Grizzlies.
The Brewers news: Meh.
You probably remember him more at Florida in college than at Minnesota in the NBA. At 6-9 with long arms, he's a different type player who doesn't necessarily shoot or score consistently. Defensively, he's above average, but I giggle when I hear the locals talk about him like he's the second coming of Scottie Pippen.
Brewer was the seventh overall pick by the Timberwolves in the 2007 draft and, after an underwhelming couple of seasons, was sent to the New York Knicks as part of the Carmelo Anthony triangle deal last week. The Knicks cut him almost immediately, and today he's expected to clear waivers.
I give the Mavs credit for adding pieces here and there. Stojakovic might win them a game somewhere along the line with his shooting and Brewer might make a key defensive stop with his quickness and length.
Consider this a move along the lines of what the Texas Rangers did last summer when they attempted to bolster their playoff push with the likes of Cristian Guzman, Jorge Cantu and Jeff Francoeur.
In other words, it might not help. But it certainly doesn't hurt.
