Is DeAndre Jordan the right choice for the Dallas Mavericks?

Every MFFL out there still gets a bad taste in their mouth every time they hear the name DeAndre Jordan. After the fiasco that took place in 2015, most are still weary to forgive the big man, but does his fit make sense in the Dallas Mavericks system?

It pains me to write this as one of the leaders of the anti-DeAndre team, but as far as players that fit into the Dallas Mavericks plans, DeAndre Jordan may be a name that deserves to be near the top of the list. We have our reasons for disliking him (and they are warranted), but that does not mean the Mavs should overlook the fact that he may be the perfect person for the job needed.

The Mavs need a rim-runner. They could work with a center with some more scoring prowess, but the fact of the matter is that Rick Carlisle’s offense is at its best when there is someone constantly above the rim on both ends of the court. Jordan is one of the best centers in the league at exactly that.

Jordan is now 29 years old, going on 30,  and entering the end of his prime and the start of his decline more than likely. That said, he still was able to average 15.2 rebounds last season, the highest of his career. That went along with 12 points per game and just under a block per contest. His blocks per game numbers last season may be a little concerning, but his rim protection could easily go back to normal in the upcoming year.

The real reason that the DeAndre Jordan deal would make sense for Dallas is because it would give the team a rental at the center position until they can determine what direction they may want to go. There are some good centers in free agency this year, but the team has to be sold on those players.

The only guys I would have ahead of Jordan on the list of available centers are Clint Capela and DeMarcus Cousins. Capela is likely going to require a max contract for any chance of Houston not matching and Cousins will likely be looking for a long term deal since he is coming off an achilles tear last season.

According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, the Mavs would be looking to acquire Jordan in a deal that would have him opt into the final season of his contract (worth just over $24 million), and then be traded to Dallas. The report did not include any names, but Wesley Matthews seems like a likely candidate to be included in the trade, as well as maybe Dwight Powell.

This report does not list Dallas as a likely candidate to make the deal work, but the team does appear to be interested.

As tough as it would be for Mavs fans to forgive DeAndre and “The Indecision”, the fans would eventually settle in and see that he can really contribute to the team. His ability to play above the rim is something Dallas has missed since Tyson Chandler and could give the team a real spark towards playoff contention before re-evaluating the deal again next summer.

Next: DeMarcus Cousins in Dallas is the next logical step

It may not be the perfect fit or the perfect player, but DeAndre Jordan should be considered an option for the Mavs at center for the upcoming year(s). Plus Chris Paul and Blake Griffin aren’t there to beg him to come back again, right?