ESPN Insider article "Mavericks missed on DeAndre Jordan, so how about Dwight Howard?"

Sephkane · Jul 16, 2015

Mavericks missed on DeAndre Jordan, so how about Dwight Howard?.
By Amin Elhassan

Can someone copy/paste it?

Fyreball · Jul 16, 2015

Elhassan is a click-baiting dickbag.

J.R. · Jul 16, 2015

When the world thought DeAndre Jordan would be donning a Mavs uniform next season, our coach David Thorpe explained to me how he felt Jordan could be a great fit in Dallas.

In Thorpe's vision, the Mavs would use Jordan like the 2008-09 Orlando Magic used Dwight Howard, with the surrounding complementary pieces fitting much like that Magic squad that ended up making the NBA Finals.

Well, we now know that Thorpe's vision will not come to fruition after Jordan reneged on his agreement with Dallas and returned to the Los Angeles Clippers. Dallas has tried to recover by acquiring center Zaza Pachulia via trade and signing the freshly bought out Deron Williams, but those moves are the equivalent of putting Band-Aids on bullet wounds. The question now becomes: Who are the candidates the Mavs can pursue next offseason to fulfill that role?

Dwight Howard
Current team: Houston Rockets
Free-agent status: Player option in 2016
2014-15 salary: $21.4 million

If you're going to go shopping for a Howard clone, why not go out and get the real thing? Howard has a player option for 2016-17, and unless he has an injury plagued season, there's a high chance he'll opt out and re-enter free agency (he's due $23.6 million, but a starting max salary for a player of his years of service will be roughly $29.6 million next summer). Howard was originally linked with the Mavs two seasons ago when he was a free agent, so Dallas could take another run at him. It's worth noting Howard is repped by the same agent as Jordan, Dan Fegan. It'll be interesting to see if that means it improves their chances as Fegan offers a mea culpa, or decreases their chances after the debacle of 2015 free agency. Another concern would be Howard's age. He'll be 30, and the injuries of the last few seasons have taken a toll on his athleticism.

Hassan Whiteside
Current team: Miami Heat
Free-agent status: Unrestricted in 2016
2014-15 salary: $769,881

This might be Dallas' best shot. Whiteside is relatively young (27 next summer), with low mileage and excellent athleticism. He was a bright spot for Miami this past season as a rebounder, shot blocker and above-the-rim finisher, and obviously the Heat will make a strong push to retain his services.

Here's the catch: because Miami gave Whiteside a non-guaranteed deal in 2015-16 as opposed to a team option, it puts them in an uncomfortable situation cap-wise. He'll have Early Bird rights, which means two things: Miami can only offer four years (same as any other team), and can only offer the greater of 175 percent of his previous salary or what the CBA calls "average salary" -- estimated to be $5.7 million next summer -- unless they use cap space. With Dwyane Wade's massive cap hold/desire for another deal, and the Heat's plan to pursue another superstar free agent, it will take some interesting cap mechanics and quick decisions for Miami to use their cap space to sign Whiteside to a market value deal.

So how would a team option have changed things? They could have declined the option, making Whiteside a restricted free agent, allowing them to match any offer sheet. As it is, Dallas can poach Whiteside by making an aggressive offer at 12:01 a.m. ET on July 1, 2016.

Andre Drummond
Current team: Detroit Pistons
Free-agent status: Restricted in 2016
2014-15 salary: $2.6 million

This target has probably the least likely chance for success without an incredible turn of events in Detroit. Drummond is the franchise player, and will probably be offered a lucrative extension at some point this summer. However, if Drummond and the Pistons can't come to terms on a number (if he's worth max to them, wouldn't they have offered it by now? And wouldn't he have accepted it?), Dallas could make a push for his services. He'll be 22 next summer, and he has the profile of a young Howard: excellent size, length and athleticism, and a double-double machine. That gives Dallas a longer career arc to take advantage of, giving them a bona fide bridge to L.A.D. -- Life After Dirk.

His field goal percentage isn't in the stellar heights that Howard, Jordan, and even Whiteside enjoy, but playing in a better system with better playmakers should help. Even if Drummond and Detroit can't come to terms this summer, he'll still be a restricted free agent next summer, so Dallas will have to submit an offer sheet and hope Detroit either doesn't match or is amenable to working out a deal prior to the eminent submission of an offer sheet.

JaVale McGee
Current team: None
Free-agent status: Unsigned
2014-15 salary: $11.3 million

Larry Sanders
Current team: None
Free-agent status: Unsigned
2014-15 salary: $11 million

A year ago, Whiteside was toxic just like these two players, with a reputation for unreliability, hubris and a poor work ethic, so we'd be remiss to exclude them from this list. McGee more similarly resembles Whiteside as a player who just hasn't been serious about his NBA career. Despite his obvious athletic gifts and talents, McGee's basketball IQ is probably bottom five for his position. He's not a good defensive rebounder, and while he can be a stellar shot-blocker, seven years into his career I'm still not sure he truly understands the goaltending rule. Still, he'd probably come cheap, and perhaps basketball mortality (not to mention the prospect of not having a check next summer after his four-year deal, since bought out by the Sixers, expires) will give him the impetus to focus. The Mavs have interviewed McGee, sources tell ESPN's Marc Stein, and if he can allay concerns about his long-term health McGee could be a fit.

Meanwhile, Sanders was a premier defensive presence during his time in Milwaukee, and although his offense leaves a lot to be desired, with a pedestrian shooting percentage around the basket, he'll probably come for a lot cheaper than the above options. The question, of course, is does he still want to play professional basketball? What would be more devastating for the Mavericks than to acquire a center who once again will jilt them for something else?
Click to expand...

 

roflmcwaffles · Jul 16, 2015

This has to be one of the worst articles I have ever read.

When you put Larry Sanders as a possible target you are REALLY REACHING.

The only person they MAY get from that list is Whiteside and that's only if they way overpay him, their best player is getting old, they don't have talent behind him, Dallas isn't any sort of destination spot.

Williamson · Jul 16, 2015

Hassan Whiteside is the only real option here and that's only because the Heat won't be able to offer him his full value apparently. Even if Dwight and Drummond were to leave their respective teams, why would they want to join the sorry ass Mavs? There will be good teams out there trying to throw max money at them too.

FTW Rockets FTW · Jul 16, 2015

Amin the b****.

Always pro_mavs and anti-Rockets

he can suck a big one

DaDakota · Jul 16, 2015

I think this might be our last year with Dwight - unless we do something special.

DD

HillBoy · Jul 16, 2015

Yeah, starting to hear "whispers" up here about the Mavs making another run at Howard next year. It's mostly mental masturbation from the talking heads on radio and the butt-hurt MFFLs.

xaos · Jul 16, 2015

I would bet all of my life savings that Dwight does not go to Dallas

Madmanmetz · Jul 16, 2015

DaDakota said: ↑

I think this might be our last year with Dwight - unless we do something special.

DD
Click to expand...

I've watched Dwight be interviewed many times and the one thing I firmly believe he has learned is he values being somewhere he is able to be himself. He wants to enjoy his career as a basketball player. It seems that Houston has offered that to him without regard. That said If Dwight is truly all in for a championship at the same time then let's hope he is ready to tell Fegan to zip it and he'll resign at a good deal for the Rockets that will still pay him more money than he'll ever need. I don't think he'll be worth 5 years at $30 mil over the life of the contract.

Mavs will get Whiteside more than likely.

Zbed · Jul 16, 2015

The bottom line is if Dwight really wants a ring as bad as he says he does he won't leave us for Dallas.

J Sizzle · Jul 16, 2015

If Dwight leaves Harden for Parsons, then so be it

MarioElie17 · Jul 16, 2015

Amin Elhassan can rot in hell for all I care.

malakas · Jul 16, 2015

We can offer the most money and years so he will stay with us. Don't expect any discount unless he gets serious injured, in which case we will have to beg him to opt out to resign him.

thekad · Jul 16, 2015

DaDakota said: ↑

I think this might be our last year with Dwight - unless we do something special.

DD
Click to expand...

Yeah, he's going to take less money to go to a worse team. Makes sense.

Ranny · Jul 16, 2015

Meh... the mavs should just disappear

ParaSolid · Jul 16, 2015

Amin Elhassan sucks. Like Broussard, I am not sure how he is employed in ESPN. I'm not even sure how he got a job as a scout with Phoenix since he says nothing insightful regarding player evaluation. I suspect that his #hatehard nonsense has gotten him some dollars.

Nimo · Jul 16, 2015

Zbed said: ↑

The bottom line is if Dwight really wants a ring as bad as he says he does he won't leave us for Dallas.
Click to expand...

That might change if the Mavs get Durant

Newlin · Jul 16, 2015

DaDakota said: ↑

I think this might be our last year with Dwight - unless we do something special.

DD
Click to expand...

It could be his last year with the Rockets. It wouldn't break my heart if he left. Dwight is starting to break down, and we have a young talent in Capela. It would give us tons of cap space. We did OK in the regular season last year without Dwight, so I won't go into panic mode if Dwight leaves.

RocketsJumer · Jul 16, 2015

Was the article following the 2013 offseason, "The Mavs have missed out on Dwight Howard, so how about DeAndre Jordan?"

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ESPN Insider article "Mavericks missed on DeAndre Jordan, so how about Dwight Howard?"

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ESPN Insider article "Mavericks missed on DeAndre Jordan, so how about Dwight Howard?"

Sephkane Member

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DaDakota If you want to know, just ask!

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