Ro Blackman’s Scouting Report On 3 New Mavs

   Get Ro Blackman talking about NBA fringe players – like, say, Quinton Ross, Kris Humphries and Nathan Jawai – and he cannot help himself. It’s like he’s trying to transfer the motivational fire that burns inside him to those players … and to everyone around him.

   So he’s grabbing my arm, poking me in the chest, wrestling with my shoulders. And he’s using phrases like “hard-nosed’’ and “hunger’’ and “lip service.’’ He’s getting himself all worked up. …

   Here’s Ro – one of the greatest Mavs of all time now serving as Dallas’ Director of Basketball Development – with pep talks/scouting reports on a trio of Mavs’ unknown-quality roster members, Ross, Humphries and Jawai:

 Kris Humphries. 6-9, 235. PF. Two years, $6.1 million. Acquired in Marion deal. 3.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg

   “I like Kris Humphries a lot,’’ Blackman says. “He’s one of those guys, when you first see him out there, you honestly don’t think much of him. Then you start paying attention and he’s getting up and down the floor efficiently and aggressively. You realize how hard-nosed he is. He rebounds. He’s relentless. And then at the end of a game, you see that it was him setting screens, him scrapping for rebounds, him running the floor, him playing defense.

  “Humphries,’’ Ro asserts, “ if he gets the chance, can be a very solid complimentary player in the NBA. He’s got some skills and he is without question someone who plays with determination. That’s a good combination.’’

Quinton Ross. 6-6, 193. SG. One year, $1.03 million. Signed as a free agent from Memphis. 3.9 ppg

    “The issue with Quinton,’’ Ro says, “is a simple one. We already know he can play. He’s an NBA player. But what does he want to accomplish here? Does he want to settle for being a guy who is a capable NBA player who is a very good defender so he’ll play in Dallas, and he’ll get comfortable in his hometown, and he’ll be the 11^th man and be a role player? Or does he want more?’’

   “Those are his choices,’’ Blackman continues. “One, he can settle for being a role player. Or two, he can look at the Dallas Mavericks’ situation, and he can look at the Dallas Mavericks’ history, and realize we’ve had a heck of a time finding that all-around player who can play the 2. Does Quinton see himself as an answer to that search? Does he hunger for that? He can play defense … but does he believe he can also develop as a shooter? He can handle the ball … but does he believe he can develop as a distributor? I know he can D. I think he can hit (shots). Does he think so?

    “What does Quinton Ross want from himself? If I’m him, I’m thinking, ‘Hey, I think I should be competing for a starting job here.’ But what does Quinton want?’’

Nathan Jawai. 6-10, 280. Center. One year, $736,400. Acquired in Marion deal.0.3 ppg, 0.3 rpg

 “I know a lot of people haven’t seen him play,’’ Blackman says. “But I have seen a lot of film on him from him playing professionally in Australia. It looks like he has skills and he certainly has the size. But here’s what we don’t know – and I’d like him to be here right now so we can see it: How does he do against Damp in practice? Can he survive that? Can he handle the physicality of what we do at this level? Can he do it every day?’’

   And then Blackman launches into a monologue that is partially about Jawai but is really meant for all three of the guys I’m asking about, and really meant for almost everyone who will show up to compete for playing time when Mavs camp opens in a week.

   “I want to know who I can trust,’’ says Blackman, and how he is clutching and poking and grabbing me. “Being a professional basketball player is a different thing. There’s a lot of talk about who can do what. A lot of lip service.There are these guys, some of these guys, who really have nice credentials, and that is fantastic. But are you a good teammate? Are you a professional? How do you handle this environment? Can I trust you?

   “I’m giving you my thoughts here as best I can,’’ Ro finishes. “But I really don’t know enough until it gets to the fourth quarter, you know?’’