Free agent center Boban Marjanovic has agreed to a two-year, $7 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks, league sources told ESPN on Wednesday, confirming multiple reports.
The 7-foot-3, 290-pound Marjanovic averaged 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game for the LA Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers.
Marjanovic, 30, will provide the Mavericks with depth at center. Dwight Powell, who agreed to a three-year, $33 million contract extension earlier this week, is the probable starting center. Kristaps Porzingis, who agreed to a five-year, $158 million maximum contract in the opening minutes of free agency, will likely start at power forward but see some playing time at center as well.
Marjanovic showed improved offensive skills this past season, averaging 8.2 points while shooting 62.5% from the field in just 13.9 minutes per game after the 76ers acquired him as part of the Tobias Harris trade-deadline deal with the Clippers in February.
His defense, however, has been a problem and was the main reason the backup center played such a limited role during Philadelphia’s playoff run (9.5 minutes per game). In fact, during the seven-game, second-round series loss to the Raptors, Philly was a plus-90 with Joel Embiid on the floor and a minus-111 without him.
The 30-year-old Marjanovic, a native of Serbia known for his fun-loving personality and who had a role in the movie “John Wick 3,” has career averages of 6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds while playing for the San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, Clippers and 76ers.