The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly confident that they’ll be the team to land Jermaine O’Neal for the playoff run according to ESPN.com.
Sources told ESPN.com that the Mavericks — who continue to closely monitor the 36-year-old center as O’Neal works out in preparation for a comeback — hope to sign him by the All-Star break.
“We’ll let you know when there’s any breaking news, but right now, there’s none,” Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said Sunday about Dallas’ pursuit of O’Neal.
Sources say O’Neal has made it clear to interested teams that he doesn’t intend to sign anywhere until he is closer to NBA game shape. After taking the first few months of the season to focus on family time and business trips, O’Neal has been working out intensely since the start of 2015 out of his home gym in Southlake, Texas, a suburb of Dallas.
O’Neal, a six-time All-Star who played four seasons for Carlisle with the Indiana Pacers in his prime, averaged 7.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 20.1 minutes last season for the Golden State Warriors.