Mbenga Deciding Between Lakers And Heat

Free agent center Jamaal Magloire visited the Heat on Thursday, and another big man is scheduled to be in Miami early next week.

Center D.J. Mbenga has a workout slated for Monday, his agent, Bouna Ndiaye, said Thursday.

Ndiaye said that if all goes well, Mbenga will choose between signing with the Heat and Lakers.

The 7-footer averaged 1.4 points and 1.3 rebounds in 26 games with the Lakers. He started last season with Golden State before being waived. He has appeared in 121 games since 2004, averaging 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds with L.A., Golden State and Dallas.

''There is interest,'' Bouna said of the Heat. ``I'm not sure how strong the interest is in signing him but they want to get a look at him first.''

Mbenga, 27, is entering his fifth season and finds the Heat appealing because of the team's need for another center. Veteran Mark Blount and second-year Joel Anthony are under contract, but Blount is offensive-minded and Anthony is raw.

''D.J. is the perfect fit in size and the opposite style of Mark Blount,'' Ndiaye said. ``He's a good fit, exactly what the team needs. He defends, he's a great energy guy and showed that with the Lakers and Dallas.

Ndiaye noted that the Heat is also appealing because the Lakers have a crowded frontcourt with Andrew Bynum, Chris Mihm, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom.

Mbenga is not the Heat's only option, as veteran Lorenzen Wright met with the Heat earlier this week.

Free agent center D.J. Mbenga had a workout in Miami earlier this week, and it appears as though he's considering both the Heat and Lakers, according to The Miami Herald.

Mbenga averaged 1.4 points and 1.3 rebounds in 26 games with the Lakers last season, after getting waived by the Warriors.

"There is interest," agent Bouna Ndiaye said of the Heat. "I'm not sure how strong the interest is in signing him but they want to get a look at him first."

"D.J. is the perfect fit in size and the opposite style of Mark Blount," Ndiaye added. "He's a good fit, exactly what the team needs. He defends, he's a great energy guy, and showed that with the Lakers and Dallas."

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