2018 NBA free agency grades: Mavericks keeping Salah Mejri
The Dallas Mavericks went under the radar after landing DeAndre Jordan, bringing back center Salah Mejri on a one-year deal worth the league minimum.
After they agreed to a deal with their prized acquisition in DeAndre Jordan, the Dallas Mavericks quickly got him a backup in Salah Mejri, agreeing with the Tunisian big man on a one-year deal worth the league’s minimum, according to New York Times‘ Marc Stein.
Standing at 7’1” and 245 pounds, it’s easy to see why Mejri is one of the better interior defenders in the game, using his size and length to intimidate all that challenge him near the bucket.
Brought in prior to the 2015-16 season, Mejri has flashed potential as a Jordan-like rebounder and shot-blocker, albeit in limited minutes.
One-year league minimum deal for Salah Mejri to stay with the Mavericks, according to league sources. Dallas' desire to bring Mejri back only rose after the draft-night acquisition of his former Real Madrid teammate Luka Doncic
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2018
His numbers of 3.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game may seem low, but once you take into account he only logged 12.0 minutes a night this past season, the potential is easy to see.
When bumping up Mejri’s minutes to 36, his stats rise to the level of the NBA elites at 10.6 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.3 blocks.
Obviously, per 36 minute numbers are always misleading, but they show the talent Mejri is clearly capable of in the short amount of playing time he’s currently receiving from Mavs coach Rick Carlisle.
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His free throw shooting could use some work. A career 58.4 percent shooter from the stripe, Mejri would be better served to bump that up to at least the mid-60s in order to avoid becoming the victim of the infamous Hack-A-Shaq scheme.
One of the other reasons this deal makes sense for the Mavericks is because of Mejri’s relationship with Dallas’s incoming rookie — and likely future face of the franchise — Luka Doncic.
As referenced by Marc Stein, both Doncic and Mejri played together for Real Madrid, meaning both will have chemistry long before training camp begins in September.
For Doncic, Mejri can and will certainly be a go-to mentor at times given their history. Luka can learn firsthand from his former teammate what it means to migrate from a different country and what that type of transition means on the court and off the court, making his learning curve that much smaller.
One more year In the big D ✌️🏀#DallasMavericks #MFFL #SalahMejri pic.twitter.com/Dfz887dvTD
— Salah Mejri (@50Mejri) July 2, 2018
For a team not looking to tank in 2019, bringing back Mejri was a great move for the Mavericks in order to solidify their bench.
While his style of play may not be that of the newer and more versatile bigs sweeping the league, Mejri’s efforts on the defensive end would be a welcome sight for any team.
With Jordan in the fold, Dallas isn’t looking for Mejri to take over the starting role and play big minutes. They simply want him to play well in spurts and provide the energy and effort that make his per 36 minute numbers look so good.
At just over $1.5 million, this deal doesn’t break the bank for Dallas either, making it a low-risk, high-reward move that will almost certainly be the latter once Mejri is up for a new contract next summer.
Next: 2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Grade: B+