LAS VEGAS – Former NBA centers Dikembe Mutombo and Brendan Haywood believe the Dallas Mavericks hit a grand slam last Friday when they signed DeAndre Jordan to a one-year, $22.9 million contract.

An eight-time All-Star and four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner, Mutombo told Mavs.com that Jordan has the skills to clog up the middle and create havoc inside the paint for anyone with the audacity to drive to the basket. And that, he said, will be a huge bonus for the Mavs.

“I like him,” said Mutombo, who played in the NBA from 1991-2009 and is in Las Vegas to watch the MGM Resorts NBA Summer League 20018. “If they can play the perimeter game and leave him in the middle by himself, that will give him the room to get 20-30 rebounds every night.”

Haywood, the backup to center Tyson Chandler when the Mavs captured the 2011 world championship, also is equally all-in when it comes to recognizing the overwhelming impact he acknowledged that Jordan can have on Mark Cuban’s squad.

“I think DeAndre definitely helps the team a lot,” Haywood told Mavs.com. “He gives them some rim presence, he’s a rim protector, he’s a dynamic roller, and he’s excellent at screen-and-rolling and getting to the basket and finishing above the rim.

“Last year he actually shot his free throws a lot better as well, and I think that’ll help because he won’t be in that hack-a-category where he gets fouled a lot. He also brings a veteran presence to that team.”

With point guard Dennis Smith Jr. having a year in the NBA under his belt and rookie Luka Doncic also joining forces with veterans Dirk Nowitzki, Harrison Barnes, Wesley Matthews, Dorian Finney-Smith, Dwight Powell and J.J. Barea, Haywood believes this could be a very special season for the Mavs. Particularly with the addition of Jordan, who can instantly erase any defensive deficiencies the Mavs may have on the perimeter.

“I figure it’s a lot of upside and no downside to bringing DeAndre Jordan in,” Haywood said. “I think this is a team that can compete for one of those last couple of playoff spots, depending on the growth of young players like Luka Doncic and Dennis Smith Jr.”

Mutombo, who led the NBA in rebounding in 2000 and ‘01, and in blocked shots in ‘94, ‘95 and ’96, is fascinated by all the ground Jordan covers while patrolling the paint, and by the intimidating force with the way he finishes his dunks.

“That kid can dunk the ball, and can jump,” Mutombo said. “I’ve never seen so many people who can jump higher than him.

“If he can be in Dallas — a team that can shoot from the outside — that will give him the room to do whatever he want to do in the middle, because he’ll have room to continue to dominate.”

All of this analysis by Haywood and Mutombo, of course, is sweet music to the Mavs, who made Jordan their No. 1 free agency target this offseason – three years after he jilted them in free agency in the summer of 2015.

“He’s a force, he’s a rim force at both ends of the floor,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “We have not had a guy since Tyson Chandler that gave us anything close to that.

“It’s a great opportunity for our franchise, and he feels it’s a great opportunity for him, too. We’ve got a lot of playmakers that can throw lobs and put him in strong position, so we think it’s a great fit.”

Forward Harrison Barnes, in Las Vegas to watch the Mavs’ summer league entry, also is intrigued by how many more wide open looks he and his teammates will receive next season because of Jordan’s massive presence down in the box.

“It was crazy how that worked out, that we were able to get him,” Barnes told Mav.com. “He’s excited to be here, the team’s excited for him to be here, so we’re looking forward to it.”

Barnes made a mental glance at the Mavs’ roster in his head and immediately wanted to head to the gym so he can get everyone collaborating in unison as soon as possible. That’s the adrenalin rush the signing of a prime-time player like Jordan gave Barnes.

“The thing I’m most excited about right now is just getting everyone together,” Barnes said. “It’s important to develop that chemistry, because talent-wise we have some lineups that on paper look really good together.

“It’s just a matter of everyone getting comfortable and being ready to go and go out there and win games.”

Haywood even embraced Jordan signing just a one-year contract with the Mavs, because he knows he’ll invigorate the defense and change the culture much like Chandler did during the 2010-’11 championship season.

“There are a lot of guys trying to get back into free agency in 2019,” said Haywood, who played in the NBA from 2001-’15. “And if this team is winning and doing things the right way, I’m sure he’ll want to be back with the Mavs and Mark will want him back.”

NOTES: After drilling the Golden State Warriors, 91-71, in summer league play on Monday, the Mavs are 2-1 thus far since arriving in Las Vegas last Thursday. The Mavs, who had an off day on Tuesday after either playing or practicing for eight consecutive days, will now enter the double-elimination portion of their summer league schedule. But the Mavs’ next opponent – and when and where they’ll play – won’t be announced until the remaining preliminary games are completed on Tuesday night. . .Luka Doncic started playing the 2017-’18 EuroLeague season last September and didn’t finish until June 19 – two days before the NBA Draft – when he led Real Madrid to the championship. The next day Doncic flew to New York for the NBA Draft, which was held on June 21. And the next morning he flew to Dallas for a press conference. Then it was back to Europe to pick up some belongings, and back to Dallas as he waited for his contract situation to be resolved. But that didn’t occur until Monday in Las Vegas when Doncic, 19, finally was able to sign his three-year, $18.576 million rookie-scale contract. Doncic can sign an extension after his third season with the Mavs. All of the whirlwind traveling by Doncic had coach Rick Carlisle thinking. “I’m trying to remember when I was 19 years old and what that was like,” Carlisle said. “But it was so long ago I’m a little foggy on it. But he’s super excited to be with the Mavericks.” . . .One of the NBA’s top coaches, Rick Carlisle is very anxious to start diagramming plays and getting guards Dennis Smith Jr. and Luka Doncic dialed in on the same page. And knowing that center DeAndre Jordan will be very impactful on both ends of the court also makes Carlisle sleep a little more comfortable at night. “I’m very excited,” Carlisle said. “Having those guys and DeAndre and another year of experience under the belts of our young guys, there’s a lot of things to be excited about.”. . .Forward Harrison Barnes was so thrilled the Mavs landed Luka Doncic in that draft-day trade with the Atlanta Hawks that he showed up at his conference on June 22. “I’ve talked to him and been texting him a little bit,” Barnes said. “I text him and (second-round pick) Jalen Brunson. I’m looking forward to continue building a relationship with them.” . .Known for wagging his finger after blocking a shot, ex-NBA player Dikembe Mutombo said he wouldn’t mind if DeAndre Jordan did the same thing while playing for the Mavs. Mutombo said: “Of course. Why not?”