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

[F Gump]

.... Taking a flyer on Jalen Smith would have made sense ....I have no idea why we were focusing on getting a backup center instead of ....

While I liked the idea of taking a flier on Smith, once the Mavs got CWood, there wasn't a role here for Smith.

The Mavs need, with Wood here, is for a center who is more interior-based (like Powell) yet who also is a plus in rebounding and defense. Smith is definitely NOT that guy. It's only a limited minutes job, to be sure, but it will arise regularly and be badly needed at times, and McGee is good at it, willing and familiar with such a role. Plus, Kidd/ Dudley have connections and endorse him as what is needed. With the Mavs playing for now, filling a massive hole takes higher priority than trying to build something for years from now.

In the bigger picture, I agree it's hard to understand what's going on with the other needs, another creator (to fill some of the hole left by JB leaving) and a 3rd 2-way wing (to supplement DFS and RB), except maybe there just weren't any solutions available at that MLE price.