The first in a five-part series previewing free agency for the Dallas Mavericks:
It's not like the Mavs are motivated to move on from Tyson Chandler. They'd be happy to have the best big man in franchise history return to Dallas.
But the Mavs can't pass on the opportunity to upgrade by signing a significantly younger center.
DeAndre Jordan is the lone big man who realistically offers that opportunity for the Mavs in this summer's market. (The Mavs don't believe they have a legitimate chance to land Marc Gasol, Brook Lopez isn't worth the risk for Dallas given his durability issues, rebounding problems and price tag, and Greg Monroe isn't a true center who can serve as the defensive anchor Dallas desperately needs.)
The case for Jordan over Chandler is pretty simple: Jordan is a more productive, durable big man who is just entering his prime, as he's six years younger than Chandler.
Chandler is a great finisher; Jordan has led the league in field-goal percentage the past three seasons. Chandler is an outstanding rebounder; Jordan led the league in rebounding the last two seasons. Chandler is an excellent rim protector; Jordan joins Anthony Davis and Serge Ibaka as the only players to be among the league's top five in blocks the past two seasons. And Jordan hasn't missed a game the past four seasons.
The Mavs' hope that they can land Jordan, who will command a max contract, is fueled by a few factors. He's long been intrigued by the possibility of leaving the Los Angeles Clippers, where he'll always be considered the third wheel behind Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, and has acknowledged his intention to explore his options. The Houston native and Texas A&M alum is also said to be interested in returning to his home state. And he's good friends with Chandler Parsons, who is also represented by agent Dan Fegan and will serve as the Mavs' unofficial lead recruiter.
Nevertheless, it will be quite a challenge for the Mavs to convince Jordan to leave a legitimate contender that will have a five-year max offer on the table.
Dallas has to delicately balance pursuing Jordan -- one of its top-two targets along with LaMarcus Aldridge, with the priority being the one more likely to say yes -- with keeping open the possibility of Chandler's return. To miss on both would be a disaster for Dallas.
Some other potential center fits in free agency for the Mavs, who will also need to acquire depth at the position:
• Robin Lopez: The lesser of the Lopez twins should be at or near the top of the list of fallback plans. The 27-year-old is an adequate starting center whose best season came in 2013-14, when he averaged 11.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks for the Portland Trail Blazers. He can reasonably expect a nice raise after making $6.1 million last season.
• Omer Asik: Like Lopez, Asik would be a major athletic downgrade for Dallas, but he's a good rebounder and a smart, solid defender. His offensive game would remind Mavs fans of Erick Dampier. He made $8.4 million last season and could get a contract in that range again.
• Kosta Koufos: Gasol's backup in Memphis might actually be the best of the rest if the Mavs miss out on Jordan and Chandler leaves. The 25-year-old 7-footer, who has only been a full-time starter for one of his seven NBA seasons, appears ready for a starting role. He's a dominant defender -- the Grizzlies' defensive rating with him on the floor (94.8 points allowed per 100 possessions) was 7.1 points lower than Gasol's last season -- with career per-36-minute averages of 12.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.
• Brandan Wright: He was a great fit as Chandler's high-flying, lob-finishing backup before being shipped to Boston in the Rajon Rondo deal. The Mavs had concerns about the slender Wright's ability to bang against playoff competition, but the reserve guards missed playing with him after he left. Wright would probably have to be disappointed by the market for a Dallas return to make financial sense.
• Jermaine O'Neal: The Mavs thought they were going to sign the 36-year-old O'Neal for the veteran's minimum in the middle of last season, but he changed his mind and decided to sit out the entire season. He'll soon decide whether he wants to play another or call it a career. If O'Neal wants to give it a shot, he could be a minimum-salary fit for the Mavs, who would hope he'd come close to matching his 2013-14 production (7.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.9 blocks in 20.1 minutes per game).
• Samuel Dalembert: Dalembert didn't find a job after being waived by the New York Knicks in January, as teams shied away in large part due to off-court concerns about dependability that have followed the journeyman around the league. The Mavs probably would have signed him, but they weren't allowed to after trading him the previous summer. He was decent during his season in Dallas, averaging 6.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 20.2 minutes per game. The Mavs might offer him a nonguaranteed contract, making Dalembert earn his money as he goes.
• Alexis Ajinca: Another former Mav, although his Dallas stint in 2010-11 was brief. The skinny 7-foot Frenchman has improved since then, putting up per-36-minute numbers of 16.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in a limited role for New Orleans last season. He could be a good value as a low-priced backup.
• JaVale McGee: The 27-year-old has the physique and athleticism to be so much more than he's been during a career in which he's seemingly had as many Shaqtin' A Fool moments and highlight dunks. He could be a minimum-salary reclamation project for the Mavs.
• Larry Sanders: Considered a rising star a couple of summers ago, Sanders seems content with his decision to retire during what should have been his prime. If he changes his mind, the Mavs would be on the list of interested teams.
• Aron Baynes: The Spurs have the right to match any offer for the rugged restricted free agent. He averaged 6.6 points and 4.5 rebounds in 16 minutes last season. Would he be worth the $2.1 million biannual exception for the Mavs? Would the Spurs match that?
• Emeka Okafor: The former No. 2 overall pick sat out the last two seasons while recovering from a herniated disk in his neck, but the Mavs were among the teams interested in him last season. His days as a double-double machine are done, but the 32-year-old Okafor could be a quality backup if healthy.
• Greg Oden: The former No. 1 overall pick is attending a Mavs tryout minicamp along with about 25 other players this week as part of his attempt to make another NBA comeback. With his knee problems, Oden obviously can't be counted on to play many minutes. But he might be worth a minimum-salary flyer to fill the roster spot occupied by Greg Smith last season.