Dallas Mavericks Free Agency: Top Free Agent Centers

Apr 30, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward Tiago Splitter (22) shoots the ball over Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) in game six of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

DeAndre Jordan

The biggest free agent name at the 5 rolling around Mavs Nation is the Los Angeles Clippers big man, DeAndre Jordan. DeAndre Jordan is today, what Dwight Howard once was. He’s a beast on the boards and is in a class by himself in shot-blocking.

He has a potent inside game offensively and would matchup brilliantly with Dirk Nowitzki’s style of game at PF. If the Mavs are somehow able to lure their top overall free agent target, LaMarcus Aldridge, their styles of play would also greatly complement each other in much the same way.

The biggest knock on Jordan is his now-famous free throw shooting. A career 42% free throw shooter, DeAndre was often the target of teams intentionally fouling. The “Hack-a-Jordan” tactic was used by teams such as the Spurs and the Rockets in the playoffs and looks to be a frequent strategy adopted by teams in the future.

Even with the liability that is his free throw shooting, acquiring a player like Jordan would be huge for the Mavericks. Reviewing the success rate of the “hack-a” strategy, one could say it’s counterproductive and doomed to dry out naturally anyway — making DeAndre Jordan all the more attractive.

DeAndre Jordan is a Texas Native, giving Dallas an inside track and a realistic destination. He’s unquestionably a max deal player, and could be packaged in a sign-and-trade with Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton. It’s also possible he could be lured with a 1 year contract, and the promise of a new max deal when the salary cap explodes in 2016.

Chance of Signing DeAndre Jordan: 25%

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