FA: JaVale McGee 3yrs/$17.2M to DAL | will indeed start at center

[F Gump]

There are a large number of players I would rather spend the tax MLE on.  It may be the case that they all get paid more, but I would want to explore those options first.

Explore? Why do you think McGee isn't the result of exploring for what is available at their price, and taking the one who best fits a need?

Clearly there were a lot of players THEY would have wanted to get with their MLE too, and found out it was not possible. I have looked at the list. I see lots of names we hoped would be taking txMLE, and all of them got bigger deals. I see some they pursued, who either have taken a bigger deal already or are talking to others with bigger numbers than Mavs could offer.

When that happens, ya gotta move on to players who ARE available and can fill a need. And if you wait, they sign elsewhere instead.