The Dallas Mavericks' decision to sign backup center Bernard James for the remainder of the season means free agents such as JaVale McGee, Andray Blatche and Jermaine O'Neal are no longer an option.
After James's second 10-day contract of the season expired on Monday, Dallas ultimately decided to sign the reserve for the remainder of the season. The news, which the team announced Tuesday on Twitter, means the Mavericks likely have the roster they'll take into the postseason, ruling out the signing of bigger-name free agents.
Dallas had been on the prowl for frontcourt depth throughout the season. They were reportedly interested in O'Neal, who, although he didn't rule out a comeback, indicated in February his body wasn't fit to return. Neither McGee nor Blatche were ever officially linked to the Mavericks, but both would have made sense as options worth looking at as the Mavericks gear up for a tough postseason in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.
James, a 6-foot-10 reserve, is averaging 4.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game this season.
Although he's 30 years old, he's only been in the league for two years. He dropped out of high school, earned his GED and enlisted at age 17 in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a security forces specialist for six years, according to the Beale Air Force Base website. He worked on his basketball craft daily during his enlistment, and after his term expired, he eventually found his way onto Florida State's starting lineup. He graduated in 2012 at age 28 and was subsequently selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second-round of that year's NBA draft.
