Whatever happened to Pavel Podkolzin?

Some of you maybe wondering whatever happened to Pavel Podkolzin. Okay probably there are only a few of you. Actually probably no one is asking what happened to Pavel Podkolzin, but I decided to find out anyways.

With all of the hot rumors about Reggie Miller filling the final Mavs roster spot I got to thinking wouldn't a productive Pavel Podkolzin come in handy right about now? Alot of fans might not remember Pavel. He got more air time in Mavs promos on the Jumbotron during timeouts than he did playing time on the court. Podkolzin was taken 21st overall in the 2004 draft by the Utah Jazz and later traded to Dallas for their 2005 first round pick. At the time he was drafted Pavel was only 19 years old and extremely raw. Scouts labeled him "a turnover waiting to happen" but as the old basketball saying goes "You can't teach height". Pavel stands at 7-5 and weighed a spindly 260 lbs (he's now reported to weigh in the 300 lb. ballpark). Of course Mavs fans are having nightmarish flashbacks to the praying mantis days.

Actually Podkolzin showed signs of improvement in this year's Toshiba summer league for the Mavericks. In 5 games he averaged 11.6 ppg and 7.2 rpg in 21.6 min. Pavel spent the majority of his first two NBA seasons either injured or on assignment with the Mavs NBDL affiliate the Fort Worth Flyers. Unfortunately due to a stupid rule in the D-League guidelines no player can be put on assignment for a third year. What kind of bass ackwards sense does that make? Seriously, ask yourself have I ever been to a D-League game? What does the NBA have against garnering interest in the developmental league? Doesn't the very definition of the word development require continued improvement? So what, you can get better as a player just as long as you hurry up and do it in 2 years or less? Anyways I digress, the Mavericks faced a tough decision with Podkolzin. At only 21 years of age they wanted to get him some playing time so he could develop, but with Erick Dampier, DeSagana Diop, and DJ Mbenga all ahead of him on the depth chart the prospects didn't look good. "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.

The Mavs cut Pavel back on August 4, 2006 and he quickly signed with the Khimki Moscow team of the Russian League on August 16, 2006. So far with his new team BC Khimki Pavel has only seen 9.1 min per game resulting in 3.8 ppg and 2.1 rbg. Pavel is still just 22 years old and is still learning how to play the game. The Mavericks are reported to still be interested in him. "We're hoping to re-sign him when the situation is a little more right," Nelson said.

All I know is with Mbenga sidelined the rest of the year and the Mavs having an open roster spot it'd be nice to have a 3rd string center to supply an extra 6 fouls for the playoffs. Pavel Podkolzin is no Zydrunas Illgauskas hell he's no DJ Mbenga for that matter, but he's alot more promising than any of the other free agents available. Recently however, the Mavs have indicated they do not have plans to fill the final roster spot. I hope they don't need the extra fouls in the playoffs or God forbid Dampier or Diop get hurt. No one wants to see Austin Croshere try and guard Amare Stoudemire, yikes!


Here's a Mavs promo from last year featuring Pavel Podkolzin (don't blink or you'll miss him)

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