Ranking Dallas Mavericks free agent targets by position

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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 02: DeAndre Jordan #6 of the Los Angeles Clippers talks with referee Karl Lane #77 during a time out in the game against the New York Knicks at Staples Center on March 2, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

Centers

3. Kevon Looney

Looney won’t excite Mavs fans, but that is not the biggest point to this offseason. The Mavs need to assemble talent, youth, and athleticism. Limited as he may be, Looney was a consistent part of Steve Kerr’s back-to-back championship rotation and might be able to add a little bit of offense to his repertoire under Dirk Nowitzki. Looney is only 22 and has years of developmental basketball ahead of him.

While he wouldn’t exactly answer too many long-term questions for a team trying to establish itself in the west, Looney is still an interesting player for a team that could use his athleticism and size. Looney needs to become more lateral from side to side, but he has a quick second jump and does a good job switching onto smaller defenders.

2. DeMarcus Cousins

The Mavs have coveted Cousins for years, and finally have themselves a chance to land the star big man now that he is up for free agency. The Pelicans will likely put up a considerable fight to retain him, but may be looking to add to their perimeter talent next to Jrue Holiday. The Mavs will have competition for his services however.

Arguably the best scoring big man in the NBA, many teams will compete with the Mavs for him. The Lakers could get involved if they strike out on any one of their top targets, mainly Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and LeBron James. The Wizards are now in need of a center after trading Marcin Gortat to the Clippers, and the Thunder are desperate for scoring from their front court. The Mavs will have to throw millions upon millions at Cousins, but that is the going rate for one of the very best players in the league still in his 20s.

1. DeAndre Jordan

The Mavs are the runaway favorites for Jordan, just as they were three years ago. The infamous hostage situation in Houston deprived the Mavs of their primary free agent target and the first big fish that they had succeeded in landing since the new CBA was instituted. Jordan is one of if not the league’s best rim protector and one of the game’s best rebounders, two things the team could desperately use.

Now that Jordan has opted out, the Mavericks will have to sign him outright as an unrestricted free agent while keeping Matthews on the roster. The Mavs are far enough below the cap to fit him into their cap space, but would then have to use their $4.4 million cap exception to re-sign Dirk Nowitzki assuming the team declines their team option.

Next: Three options if the Mavs don't land DeAndre Jordan

The Mavs have options galore once free agency gets started, and after making a big splash on draft night, they have no reason to believe that they can’t reel in a big fish to maximize their chances of getting back to the playoffs and slowly beginning to assemble a championship team.

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