Report: Jermaine O'Neal intrigued by Mavs' addition of Rondo

Longtime NBA center/power forward Jermaine O'Neal is expected to make a decision in January on whether to play this season, and it seems the Dallas Mavericks' acquisition of Rajon Rondo may help lure him to the Big D, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

Not that he would have to be lured very far. O'Neal lives in the Dallas area and has apparently always desired to play for the Mavs, Stein added. 

Dallas will certainly need some front-line assistance following Brandan Wright's departure to the Boston Celtics in Thursday's trade. 

Stein had reported earlier in December that O'Neal was planning to wait until January to decide on his playing future, and that contenders such as the Mavs, Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers were the frontrunners for his services.

O'Neal was a teammate of Rondo from 2010-12 with the Celtics, one of seven NBA stops over 18 seasons. The 36-year-old played significant minutes for the Warriors last season, averaging 7.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in 44 games.