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Dallas Mavericks Should Sign JaVale McGee

By Christian Blood

Jan 31, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee (34) during the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee (34) during the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to ESPN and numerous outlets, the Dallas Mavericks are in exploratory talks with free agent center JaVale McGee, a legitimate seven-foot human being with an incredible wingspan who’s found it somewhat difficult to find a permanent home in the NBA.

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I suspect that this interest might be a bit more than exploratory, but that’s just me.

Depending on who you listen to, McGee goes from being an immature player who doesn’t make sound decisions all the way to a diamond in the rough who still has the potential to be the centerpiece for a true NBA contender.

No, the Mavericks don’t look much like a contender right now, but things could change without anybody knowing about it.

My only concern with McGee is probably his health, with the walking stilt having suffered his share of setbacks in the past. It does beg the question of whether or not, or how long, this player can keep performing the way the video below illustrates. McGee hasn’t played much basketball recently, period.

It’s no secret why the Mavs are having to look anywhere and everywhere for help underneath the rim, even if it’s in a backup roll. Centers Tyson Chandler, Amar’e Stoudemire and DeAndre Jordan, each having played for Dallas (or having promised to) quite recently, are all unavailable at this point.

Acquiring Zaza Pachulia certainly gives the Mavericks some offensive capabilities that they might not have had before, but not very much on the defensive end.

Enter McGee.

Despite personnel disasters like Rajon Rondo and Lamar Odom, I put a lot of trust in head coach Rick Carlisle when it comes to bringing in players that he can utilize. Nobody’s perfect in this regard, but Carlisle comes as close to that distinction as anybody else.

McGee has a history of immaturity and might have seemed rather clueless in the past, but there’s two things to consider here. First of all, perhaps the 27-year-old has matured just a bit following the injuries, the reality TV shows and so forth. (Or, perhaps not.)

Second, and most importantly, Dallas is not exactly in position to be too choosy when it comes to the skill set that McGee can bring, especially at the price that it will likely have to pay — probably the league minimum or close to it.

For years and years, the Mavericks were missing that big body underneath the rim that probably hindered some good teams throughout the 1980s and 2000s when it came to contending for a championship. Not until the arrival of Chandler in 2010-11 did that limitation disappear.

No, McGee doesn’t make the Mavericks a contender next season, but you never know just how far a player like this could push a team that has otherwise had a pretty solid offseason, even including the complete flake-job by Jordan last week.

When Jason Kidd was traded back to the Mavs in 2008, did everyone start placing bets on a championship arriving in Big D anytime soon? Hardly.

Was an NBA Finals victory parade immediately planned after Chandler was traded to the Mavs in ’10? Not exactly.

If only we had a crystal ball, right?

Perhaps McGee ends up in Dallas sooner than later, and if he does I think that the Mavs will put themselves in better position to prepare for a possible run in 2016-17. The addition of Deron Williams this week could also play a key role in the future for a franchise that has a history of building effectively while seeming to remain well under the radar.

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