DALLAS -- Coach Avery Johnson expects veteran swingman Doug Christie to give Dallas the kind of stout perimeter defense it lacked in last year's NBA playoffs -- without slowing the Mavericks' high-scoring offense.
"We feel adding Doug Christie to our team is giving us the best chance to win a championship," Johnson said Friday, after the Mavericks announced they had signed the free agent to replace Michael Finley.
That's a lot of pressure for the 35-year-old, 6-foot-6 Christie, who struggled with injuries and averaged just 6.6 points per game
last year with Sacramento and Orlando.
"I just kind of look at Orlando as a blip," Christie said. He
said he is healthy again and picked Dallas over other suitors
because he believes he can help a team that is already good.
"Obviously winning is big, obviously the chance for a
championship is big, and when you take all of that into
consideration with where I'm at in my career, this is a great
fit," he said.
Terms of Christie's deal were not disclosed, although published reports said it was $3 million for one year with team and player options for additional seasons.
The Mavericks also announced that they signed 23-year-old DeSagana Diop to help back up the often-maligned Erick Dampier at center. Terms were not disclosed. Diop could replace Shawn Bradley,
who is expected to retire.
Diop went straight from high school to the Cleveland Cavaliers with the eighth overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft, but the 7-foot, 280-pounder was lightly used in four seasons. He averaged just 1
point and 1.8 rebounds in 7.8 minutes per game last season.
The Mavericks tinkered with their roster -- also bringing back reserve point guard Darrell Armstrong and adding youngsters Josh Powell and Rawle Marshall -- rather than overhauling a Dirk Nowitzki-led team that finished the regular season 16-2 under Johnson.
"It didn't make any sense to blow this team up and have Dirk
come back and not recognize any of his teammates," Johnson said.
The Mavericks are crowded at Christie's positions of shooting guard and small forward, including sixth man Jerry Stackhouse,
late-season pickup Keith Van Horn and Josh Howard. Johnson said Christie's ball-handling and passing skills will help the offense
by freeing point guard Jason Terry for more shots.
Mavs fans know Christie well from playoffs against Sacramento. Two years ago, the NBA fined the Mavericks for showing a scoreboard
cartoon that mocked several Kings. It showed Christie being led on a leash by his wife.
Christie said he didn't see the video but heard about it from his wife, Jackie, who sat in the front row during Friday's news conference. She attends almost all his games. They exchange hand signals during games. Christie said fans shouldn't worry about their close relationship, which has been the subject of media reports.
Christie said he won't worry about replacing Finley, a fan favorite who was released to save $51 million in so-called luxury taxes.
"I'm not filling Fin's shoes ... he still works hard, he's a heckuva competitor and I loved playing against him," Christie said. "Hopefully at the end of my time here you guys will think the same of me, except with some jewelry."