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

[MrGoat]

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.

The kind of wing we want doesn't grow on trees. Signing McGee addressed a need for now. During the regular season Josh Green is probably to have a slightly bigger role and if he keeps improving we may not have to look elsewhere for that extra wing, and he's already shown some flashes of playmaking ability too. The McGee signing signals to me a vote of confidence in Josh Green to keep improving