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Dallas Mavericks: Salah Mejri Could Be A Solid Option

By Cole Mentzel

Oct 16, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Salah Mejri (50) defends Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) during the first half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Salah Mejri (50) defends Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) during the first half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Over the summer, the Dallas Mavericks signed Tunisian center Salah Mejri to a three-year contract, with the first year guaranteed, as reported by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.

Mejri, a 7’2″ center from Real Madrid, has played professional basketball for nine years. He is still only 29 and could potentially have a bright future ahead of him if the Mavs opt to keep him on the roster for the 2015-16 season.

Mejri played his first game on Oct. 13 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He immediately impressed with four points, five rebounds, two steals and one assist in just 12 minutes of playing time.

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The immediate reaction was to give him more time and that’s exactly what coach Rick Carlisle did in Mejri’s next game. He received 20 minutes and notched two points, eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal, which was great for a player with virtually no experience in the NBA.

Mejri’s major strengths are his size and length. As a 7’2″, 245-pound center, he is able to guard some of the biggest players in the league. You can see from the video above that he is definitely not afraid to take shots away from the basket and he even made a few really nice passes. The most unique thing about his game is that, in some ways, he plays outside of his position, which is a very valuable component for any center.

The only issue it looked like he was having was that he wasn’t confident enough. At times, he would get the ball and do too much working around the basket or he might suddenly pass it to another player when he could just take a quick shot. His aggressiveness was lacking at moments when he actually had the upper hand.

That isn’t something to worry about though, because many players who come from overseas struggle with the same issues. It just takes time and work with some of the other centers to develop a great style. It will be easier for Mejri because of his towering physique and long arms.

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The Mavs could’ve gotten a steal when they decided to bring him over to the United States. Throughout the preseason, Samuel Dalembert has been dismal. If he continues to underperform, he could find himself trying to earn a spot on the team. Mejri has plenty of things he needs to work on, but the skill is definitely there and it’s not often that you find a player that looks as physically intimidating as he does.

It’s always a risky move to bring over international players, as the Mavs learned the hard way with Gal Mekel, who came to the Mavs in 2013-14. He went on to play for the New Orleans Pelicans before eventually heading to Serbia to play basketball.

However, by keeping Mejri on the team, they could get a solid center off of the bench. He still has a few things to learn but his presence alone is what makes him such an intriguing piece.

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