Jermaine O'Neal Would Be Final Piece to Dallas Mavericks' Puzzle
Adding four-time All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo to a starting lineup that had already acquired impact players Chandler Parsons and Tyson Chandler over the summer signified another bold move by an ambitious Dallas Mavericks front office.
But the team still has some details to hash out between now and the postseason.
The Rondo deal required team president and general manager Donnie Nelson to part ways with Jameer Nelson, Brandan Wright and Jae Crowder (along with two draft picks and a trade exception)—an acceptable cost that nevertheless creates holes in the rotation. Particularly, there's a void left by Wright, who was averaging 18.7 minutes per contest as a reserve big man.
A highly qualified solution may be well within reach.
According to Marc Stein:
"Sources told ESPN.com that O'Neal, who opted to spend the start of this season with family and focusing on business interests while deciding whether to come back for what would be his 19th season, is 'highly intrigued' by the idea of joining the Mavericks as a free agent in the wake of the Rondo deal.
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In what would be his 19th season, there's little doubt the 36-year-old can still play—at least once he shakes the rust off. A six-time All-Star in his prime, O'Neal averaged 7.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in just 20.1 minutes per contest last season with the Golden State Warriors.
His size and mobility certainly wouldn't hurt a defense that currently ranks 20th in efficiency (allowing 105.1 points per 100 possessions according to Hollinger Team Stats.)
"He's had a terrific career," Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle told local reporters on Friday.
"He had a real solid year last year for Golden State despite having some injury issues. I have not talked to him yet myself. It's a possibility, but I don't want to jump the gun out of respect to him and his family. So we'll see. It's certainly one option.
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And while we now have reason to believe O'Neal is entertaining the scenario, it's possible alternative suitors could change his mind.
Per Stein, "NBA front-office sources say that the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors are also among the teams with a strong interest in O'Neal, should he decide to play on."
Golden State would seem an especially logical arrangement, both because of previous ties and center Andrew Bogut's seemingly perpetual bouts with injury. The club's top perch in the standings and 22-3 start under new head coach Steve Kerr make for a compelling pitch.
But don't underestimate O'Neal's interest in playing near his Dallas-area home.
Though he acknowledged an interest in remaining in touch with the veteran big man, Warriors general manager Bob Myers said in July that it "was difficult" for O'Neal "to leave Dallas and his family" last season, per Diamond Leung of the Bay Area News Group.
Whether the new-look Mavericks are now better than Golden State remains to be seen, but they certainly may be the better fit off the court and on the court.
Golden State may have a need for some Bogut insurance, but Dallas would be wise to have something similar for Chandler. Chandler has started all 27 games for this team so far this season, but he only played in 55 contests for the New York Knicks a season ago. A fractured fibula he suffered in November was responsible for most of those absences.
Chandler could be in store for better luck. But the fact remains he's a 32-year-old big man who plays a physical brand of interior basketball. In the event of catastrophe, the Mavericks won't go far using Greg Smith on an everyday basis.
So there's some urgency to land O'Neal, especially after losing trade assets in the package for Rondo. Prying a similarly qualified interior defender from another team could prove costly.
The Mavericks are allowing 39 points in the paint per contest (the league's fourth-best mark according to TeamRankings.com), but you won't find many front offices worried about having too much rim protection. And this club is especially dependent on defensively minded centers given the need to spare Dirk Nowitzki too much banging in the paint.
There's a reason reacquiring Chandler was such a high priority during the offseason.
O'Neal's defensive resumé may not be quite as impressive, but he's averaged 1.8 blocks per game for his career. For 15- or 20-minute doses, he'll still get the job done.
This would also be a savvy locker-room move for the franchise. Though the roster isn't short on experienced leadership, O'Neal is a professional, and that's important for a club with championship ambitions—even if not especially for guys in the supporting cast.
O'Neal made appearances in the conference finals and semifinals with the Indiana Pacers, and he's qualified for the postseason 14 times with five different teams.
He would almost certainly continue his postseason legacy with the Mavericks.
It will take the new rotation some time to fully gel, but Dallas already leads the league in offensive efficiency with 113.6 points per 100 possessions according to Hollinger Team Stats. There's plenty to like about the endless possibilities with Rondo now aboard.
And even more to like with O'Neal in the picture.
Earlier this month, he told Stein that he was "going to make a clear-cut decision after the holidays."
If there's a return to be made, that decision could very well favor the Mavericks—and somehow make the Western Conference even more brutally competitive in the process.
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