DALLAS -- After the Mavericks learned in early July that Deron Williams was not headed to Dallas from New Jersey and that they weren't going to be acquiring Dwight Howard from Orlando, many wondered what was next for GM Donnie Nelson and owner Mark Cuban.
But the Mavs did a nice job of retooling on the fly, adding the likes of the solid Elton Brand, point guard Darren Collison, big man Chris Kaman and pure shooter O.J. Mayo. However, Dallas also added one more player via free agency and that was guard Dahntay Jones, who is entering his 10th season in the Association.
Since being taken 20th overall by the Celtics in the 2003 NBA Draft, the ex-Duke Blue Devil has suited up for the Grizzlies, Kings, Nuggets and most recently was a teammate of Collison's in Indiana. And even though he's new to Dallas, Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle feels there's plenty to like about the 6-foot-6 swingman who will turn 32 in December.
"I like his physical disposition. I like his toughness. I think he's an underrated offensive player," Carlisle said. "A lot of the things that [DeShawn] Stevenson brought are things that could be there for us. Had about three weeks here to get to know him, work with him a little bit and watch him play pickup games, so I've gotten a better handle on him. But looking forward to getting started tomorrow and getting right after this thing."
And in a nice added bonus, Jones also has 33 games of playoff experience. But when asked to name exactly what qualities he brings to his new club, he offered a succinct yet no less impactful response. "I bring a competitive edge. Obviously I play defense. I'm going to compete and try to do anything necessary to win," he said.
Of course, he's part of a talented influx of talent in the Mavericks, a group that it might take Carlisle a bit of time to get to gel into an effective unit. But no matter how long that process takes, this Duke product is definitely glad to make the move to Big D, especially as part of a group that includes the likes of Brand, Collison, Kaman and Mayo.
"Yeah, I came in with a versatile, good, talented group. We have some great scorers in Elton Brand and OJ Mayo. Chris Kaman has a great big man presence who can shoot and post up. We have a great floor general in Darren Collison who's getting better and better each day," Jones said. "And he's growing right before your eyes. We have a good, talented group coming in."
One of his newest teammates is Mayo, who despite never playing on the same team has him, has immense respect for what he knows he can bring to Carlisle's roster, especially on the defensive end of the hardwood.
"He's going to bring the defensive-minded attitude that we needed. He's a true professional," Mayo said. "Wherever he goes he's not highly talked about, but he finds himself on the floor. He finds himself out there competing at the nitty gritty time when needed, looking forward to playing alongside him."
Some might say that Jones has been something of a bust during his time in the NBA, especially since was taken 20th overall back in 2003. But that's not exactly a fair statement. Sure, he hasn't exactly lit it up on the offensive end, has bounced around the league and has just one season where he averaged in double-figures in scoring, but he has more than earned his bones as a very solid NBA defender.
And that reputation alone makes him a great fit to play under Carlisle, who emphasizes defense in what figures to be a much higher-tempo offense this season.
"It definitely does seem like a great fit. Rick [Carlisle] is a defensive-minded coach and I'm going to learn some different aspects," Jones said. "I've been in the league 10 years and I still get to learn from another great coach. I'm going to try to get the most out of it." That defense-first mentality is something that has been the focal point of his game for as long as he can remember. "I've always liked to defend. I take pride in trying to stop my guy," he said. "It snowballed into what it is right now."
When discussing who the Mavs added this off-season, the ex-Blue Devil is almost an afterthought. However, he doesn't concern himself with whether people consider him underrated or not. Instead, he focuses on doing what he does best and using that skill set in the best way possible to help his new employer not just win games, but make the playoffs and contend for another championship.
"I don't worry about that kind of stuff. All that stuff doesn't matter at this point in time in the season. It just matters who can help the team win and I'm going to try my best to do that," Jones said.
