From the high of an epic comeback win over the Blazers … to the low of needing to sign Bernard James.
Such is the Mavs’ plight these last couple of days as the injuries mount and their wait for interior help intensifies into desperation.
Already without Rajon Rondo and with Monta Ellis leaving the game with a hip injury, Dallas’ lineup became devastatingly depleted when center Tyson Chandler turned an ankle less than a minute into last night’s game against the Clippers. The result? DeAndre Jordan morphed into Wilt Chamblerlain with 22 points and 27 rebounds, and the Mavs reached for the panic button after a demoralizing home loss.
They’re still intent on signing veteran power forward Jermaine O’Neal, but the six-time All-Star plans to delay his return to the NBA until after the All-Star break. Dallas can’t wait that long. With Brandon Wright long gone in the Rondo trade and with Greg Smith and Dwight Powell so far incapable of excelling at this level, the Mavs had no answer for Jordan.
The Clippers, who had lost four in-a-row and were playing without Blake Griffin, racked up 115 points on the hapless Mavs.
That’s where James comes in. According to ESPN, the Mavs will sign their former 2nd-round draft pick to a 10-day contract this week. James was released in October and has been playing in China.
Obviously James isn’t a long-term answer. But at this point he is what the Mavs must have – a big, healthy body.
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A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
