After losing three rotational players in Thursday's trade for Boston Celtics star Rajon Rondo, the Dallas Mavericks are looking to add depth to their frontcourt. Dallas reportedly is targeting free agent centers Jermaine O'Neal and Emeka Okafor in hopes one of the veterans will sign.
The addition of Rondo resulted in the loss of center Brandan Wright, along with guards Jameer Nelson and Jae Crowder. The loss of Wright hurts Dallas the most and forces them to look outside the current roster for an efficient backup to center Tyson Chandler. The Mavericks easiest solution is to pick up a free agent, and reports from ESPN and Grantland indicate they're interested in O'Neal and Okafor.
O'Neal lives in Dallas, which works in the Mavericks' favor. He spoke to ESPN earlier in the week and said he would make a "clear-cut decision" about whether to return to the NBA after holidays. The addition of Rondo, at least on paper, makes the 19-8 Mavericks an even stronger contender in the Western Conference, which also works in Dallas' favor of convincing the 36-year-old to sign.
Okafor is also on the Mavericks' list. ESPN reported the Mavs have "kept tabs" on him over the season as he continues to recover from his neck injury. Picking up Okafor, though, might be difficult: he's wanted by half the league, and if healthy, he'll have his pick of where he goes.
The Cleveland Cavaliers seem to be the de facto frontrunner for defensive anchor.
As for Rondo, Dallas hopes his addition will boost the defensive abilities of their backcourt and add a much-needed rebounder to the roster. Dallas' offense has been one of the league's best this season, and it currently ranks No. 1 in efficiency. Although Rondo is a terrible shooter, his pass-first mentality should make the offense even more efficient by getting different players involved and giving them better looks from the field.
