Mavericks confident they can land Josh Smith or Jermaine O'Neal
The Dallas Mavericks have one of the league's top offenses, and they recently acquired Rajon Rondo, but they're not done yet.
Donnie Nelson, the club's president of basketball operations, said Dallas is confident that the Mavericks' bench could improve with the addition of one of Josh Smith, recently waived by the Detroit Pistons, or Jermaine O'Neal, a free agent.
Here's what Nelson said Tuesday on ESPN Dallas radio:
I feel pretty good that we'll be able to come to terms with one. Certainly to come up with both would be just hitting a grand slam home run. Look, there's a long line for suitors on both fronts.
I think the fact that Jermaine has chosen Dallas to be his home in the long term certainly has its place and resonates with time with family and such. And here's a guy who has a long history not only with our coach but with our point guard/quarterback. That certainly has a place.
With Josh, again, we're one of a number of potential teams and suitors. It's got to be right with him and with us. We're kind of in the swings of putting our best foot forward. If we're able to hit that one home, it just would be a real, real nice get for us.
The Houston Rockets reportedly have the inside track to land Smith, and can offer him a $2.1-million deal, thanks to their biannual exception. The Mavericks can only offer Smith the minimum: $1.45 million.
The Mavericks are hoping to convince Smith to join Dallas as the team's first option off the bench.
Nelson said:
If he did fit and if he joined us, it would be a sixth man situation, but we'd see him as a starting-caliber type guy. He's got a very rare combination of strength and versatility. He'd be a great addition for whatever team is lucky enough to get his services, but he understands and is fully aware that we have a power forward that we're very comfortable with and Tyson (Chandler) has got the center position locked down, so he would be a heck of a piece at any one of our three frontline positions.
O'Neal, meanwhile, took to Twitter on Tuesday to address his future, saying his family will play a huge role in his decision about where (or if) he chooses to resume his career.