The Fig Cap: New Spirit. New Attitude. Same Underachieving Sammy.

With that determined look in his eyes, pogo sticks for legs and pterodactyl-like wingspan, nearly everyone expected by now that Samuel Dalembert would have evolved into a top flight center capable of dominating the game on both ends of the floor. Alas, for all of his blessed gifts, he was also burdened with rocks for hands and a penchant for injuries. In fact, he’s still dealing with a stress reaction (read: nearly broken bone) in his left foot. Even so, the risk is worth the reward when the positives look like 1.9 bpg, 8.9 rpg and 54.1 FG% on 10.7 ppg in 2006-07 and the negatives are more real-life related – early foul trouble, goaltending and an inability to catch an interior pass – than fantasy related.

Round 6, Pick 6: Samuel Dalembert, C, Philadelphia 76ers

Taken just one selection after Andre Miller, his teammate and point guard, Sammy will rely on Miller’s up-tempo style and catchable lobs for easy buckets on the fast breaks. Since he’s capable of running the floor better than nearly every other center in the league, Dalembert’s points and FG% can come on the cheap – as long as he remembers to hustle.

Concentration has always been a problem for Dalembert. Whether he’s fumbling a pass, bricking a dunk or goaltending yet another shot, Sammy suffers from these momentary lapses with an alarming frequency. Consequently, he leaves a lot of fantasy production on the floor in terms of missing points, lower FG%, more turnovers and a glaring lack of quality minutes. Too often Dalembert has picked up two quick fouls forcing himself to find a comfortable seat on the pine as he waits out the quarter. If he’s not careful then the process repeats itself for the second quarter with just one more foul.

All negativity aside, Dalembert was introduced late to the game in high school and subsequently has been slower to develop as he struggles with certain nuances of the game that others find second nature. But now entering his sixth season and with a pass-first PG at the helm, Sammy is poised to finally earn the Haitian Sensation nickname bestowed on him four years ago. That is if that foot injury heals as expected before the season kicks off in two weeks.

With a gutted roster devoid of quality big men, expect Dalembert to set a new career-high in minutes. Thanks to the extra burn, besting last year’s career averages of 10.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg should be academic, however, this is the type of thinking that has haunted his owners and Sixers fans in years past. Even if he doesn’t improve there, you can always take solace in the fact that he will swat roughly two shots a night (the total number, not the manner in which he rejects the shot).

With Sammy in tow, this roster now boasts intimidating twin towers in the paint that do what traditional centers are supposed to do: board, block and dunk. Now that there are two centers on the roster, there is freedom to go in any direction with the next pick. And that’s what America is all about, dammit.

Other Players on this Fantasy Team:
1.7. Steve Nash, PG, Phoenix Suns
2.6. Dwight Howard, PF/C, Orlando Magic
3.7. Vince Carter, SG, New Jersey Nets
4.6. Ron Artest, SF, Sacramento Kings
5.7. Manu Ginobili, SG, San Antonio Spurs

Previous Picks this Round
6.1. Jason Terry, PG/SG, Dallas Mavericks
6.2. David West, PF, New Orleans Hornets
6.3. Luol Deng, SG/SF, Chicago Bulls
6.4. Danny Granger, SF/PF, Indiana Pacers
6.5. Andre Miller, PG, Philadelphia 76ers

Previous Round Selections
Round One Recap
Round Two Recap
Round Three Recap
Round Four Recap
Round Five Recap