Re-signing McDermott an Easy Decision for Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks acquired Doug McDermott in a three-team trade involving the Nuggets and Knicks. After a decent showing with the team, the Mavs should absolutely re-sign him.

Doug McDermott is about as one-sided a player as there is in the NBA. With each passing game, McDermott reminds us all that he is quite possibly one of the worst defenders in the NBA, with very little ability to stop even the simplest of offensive moves despite his huge 6”8 frame. McDermott, however, was not brought to Dallas to become a lockdown defender for Rick Carlisle.

McDermott has long intrigued those in the NBA because of his shooting ability. Scouts described him as a bigger J.J. Redick in college, enticing the Chicago Bulls just enough to pull the trigger and draft him eleventh overall out of Creighton. He was then sent to the Thunder along with Taj Gibson.

The Thunder never got enough out of him, and sent him to the New York Knicks as part of the Carmelo Anthony deal. The Knicks sent him packing less than a season into his time in New York. The Mavs took him along with a second round pick aboard in exchange for Devin Harris. McDermott played in 26 games with the Mavs, starting three of them. He shot the best percentage of his career while with the Mavs, canning 48% of his shots.

McDermott also shot a whopping 49% from three point range, an ability that doesn’t grow on trees. The Mavs have been short on three-point shooting in recent years, and may have just snatched up one of the best in the league. The Mavs desperately need McDermott to become less of a liability on the defensive end so they don’t have to hide him every single possession, but the offensive abilities are there.

McDermott is the type of long, streaky wing the team has needed for all too long in Dallas. While severely lacking in athleticism and defense, he makes up for it with consistent shooting and a surprisingly polished basketball I.Q. Rick Carlisle will have no problem extracting the best version of McDermott possible, making him a potential long term piece for the Mavs.

Next: Dallas Mavericks: Way Too Early Playoff Picture in the West

McDermott still has a lot to prove in the NBA, but his 26 games as a Maverick were as encouraging as any stint he had in college or with his three prior teams in the pros. The Mavs may have found themselves a steal at last year’s trade deadline.