Dallas Mavericks player profile: DeAndre Jordan

Just three years removed from his infamous “change of heart,” DeAndre Jordan will be the starting center for the Dallas Mavericks after inking a 1-year $23 million deal on July 6th.

Although the league is in the midst of a small-ball revolution, DeAndre Jordan, 30, is still an uber-athletic big who impacts the game on both ends of the floor. Jordan immediately adds size to the Mavericks starting lineup as he stands 6-foot-11 and weighs in around 265 pounds. Jordan also sports an impressive 7-foot-6 wingspan.

On paper, the 10-year veteran from Texas A&M is the perfect match for Rick Carlisle’s free-flowing spread offense & should anchor the paint on defense. The only problem is that paper can only go so far – games must be played & production must be earned.

Without further ado, here are the high points and low points we can expect from DeAndre this upcoming season:

Highs

Jordan will make an immediate impact within the rebounding department for a Mavericks team that finished 27th in the league in rebounds per game at 41.3, per NBA.com. There is no question that Jordan is one of the league’s premier rebounders, as he has hauled in over 1,000 rebounds in five consecutive seasons.

Jordan and Andre Drummond are the only two players to bring down 1,000 rebounds in each of the last five seasons. During those five seasons, Jordan has averaged no less than 13.6 rebounds-per-game. The man can grab rebounds.

He led the NBA in both defensive and total rebounding percentage last season, snaring 37.6 percent of total rebounds, including 26.5 percent on the defensive glass. Without question, Jordan will be a presence on the boards for the Mavericks.

Jordan will also impact the Mavericks on the offensive side of the ball with both his vertical spacing and rim running ability. Carlisle’s offensive system thrives on a big man setting a high screen with shooters spaced around the perimeter. Jordan should be a super-sized version of Dwight Powell.

Jordan should work nicely in the pick-and-roll game with Dennis Smith Jr., Luka Doncic & JJ Barea. Carlisle will throw out an array of lineups with Jordan as the center. It will be fascinating to watch Jordan set hard screens and run to the rim for alley-oops. DJ had 211 dunks last season and was second in the league in field goal percentage at 64.5 percent from the floor.

Lows

It’s no secret that Jordan’s kryptonite lives at the free throw line. In 10 seasons Jordan has hit just 44.6 percent of his 3,045 attempted free throws. Teams are not shy about fouling Jordan around the basket. DJ often watched the ending of games in Los Angeles from the bench due to his inability to hit free throws.

As bad as Jordan has been from the line, he has put in the work and improved his free throw shooting to a career-best 58 percent last season. If he can improve upon the 58 percent, that would be a win for the Mavericks.

Overall, although it was somewhat of a strange marriage due to the fiasco that went down during the summer of 2015, this upcoming season is set to be an excellent one-year audition for both Jordan and the Mavericks. If things work with both parties, then the Mavericks will undoubtedly be in the driver’s seat during next summer’s contract negotiations with Jordan.

If things happen to go south, both sides can cut bait, and the Mavericks will land in familiar territory, searching for a center of-the-future.