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Dallas Mavericks: A Future For Jeremy Tyler In Big D?

By Christian Blood

Apr 15, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Andray Blatche (0) defends New York Knicks forward Jeremy Tyler (4) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. New York Knicks won 109-98. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Andray Blatche (0) defends New York Knicks forward Jeremy Tyler (4) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. New York Knicks won 109-98. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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If the 2015 NBA Summer League Playoffs are any indication, perhaps there’s a future for power forward/center Jeremy Tyler with the Dallas Mavericks.

According to Mavs.com, Tyler has been on a real tear in Las Vegas. In this particular case, timing might be perfect for the Mavericks to gain an additional piece of a future contender.

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When I say future, I refer more to any point in time beyond the upcoming 2015-16 season, a campaign which has more of a “let’s see what happens” look to it.

Tyler stands 6’10” and weighs in at 260 pounds. The NBA-caliber body is there, but is the player in total?

Not having played basketball in college, Tyler has cut his professional teeth around the world; China, Japan and Israel to be specific. At this point, he’s still an unproven commodity in the NBA at just 24 years old.

Time will tell whether or not Tyler gets an invite to Mavs training camp, but I would have to think that he’s a shoo-in at this point.

When we remember all of the big bodies that Dallas has allowed to escape its roster recently, it’s tough to imagine Tyler not getting a longer look later on this year. Not that Tyler is going to replace a player like Tyson Chandler, Brandan Wright or the flaky DeAndre Jordan, but the Mavs, at the very least, need to be thinking about depth at the center position.

Towering 2015 second-round draft choice Satnam Singh could be a couple of years away from even seeing an NBA court, although I’d be abbreviating that idea as much as possible given the new, yet familiar, gaping hole that’s now obvious under the rim.

Or, perhaps Tyler’s best fit moving forward is to be groomed as a potential replacement for 2011 NBA Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki, a player whose twilight years are obviously upon us. Tyler certainly doesn’t have those credentials, but at some point the Mavs have to turn the page on Nowitzki, if they haven’t already.

Owner Mark Cuban has stated that Dallas will not throw this season down the drain in trying to land a top-three choice in the NBA lottery. His actions back up that sentiment, especially given the addition of point guard Deron Williams.

It’s great having veteran talent to rely on up and down the bench, but Cuban seems to be moving toward not exactly a rebuild, but a significant renovation that can’t just rely on veteran free agents on short-term contracts anymore.

Tyler is a player that has paid some dues and his 7’5” wingspan is something to behold. Length and athleticism are a couple of qualities that can immediately translate to the NBA, while other skills may take some time, such as footwork, stamina and strength.

Tyler may not be a starter for Dallas, or anyone else next season, but is it possible that he could be ready for the 2016-17 season? I would suggest that this could be the case, and the Mavericks should keep themselves in position to find out.

Cuban simply doesn’t have anything at all to lose at this point, and that includes another seventh or eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

Next: Dallas Mavericks: Southwest Division Backcourt Comparisons

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