Dallas Mavericks Appear To Finalize Roster With 2-Way Roster Move

The Dallas Mavericks are not quite through half of their training camp and have played just one preseason game.  Still, according to Dallas Hoop Journal’s Grant Afseth, two players are emerging as favorites to win the competition for the Mavericks’ final two roster spots. Markieff Morris and Jazian Gortman are the players Afseth named the leaders to make the team.

Dallas entered training camp with 21 players, 15 of whom were on standard contracts, including 14 with guaranteed deals. However, the Mavericks waived AJ Lawson, who was on a nonguaranteed contract, following their preseason-opening loss to Memphis. Thus, the Mavericks had 20 players on the training camp roster and one open spot.

Veteran Forward and Young Point Guard Reportedly Have Upper Hand To Earn Mavericks Final Roster Spots

With Lawson out of camp, Afseth said it clears the way for Morris, who is on an Exhibit 9 training camp deal. Morris has spent the last year and a half with the Mavericks, though the 35-year-old has only appeared in 34 games while averaging eight minutes a contest.

While Morris appears to have the inside track on the 15th spot, the Mavericks could still waive him and keep just 14 players on the roster. That doesn’t seem likely, as the Mavs are already a man down due to Dante Exum’s injury.

Morris’ cap hit of $2.08 million allows the Mavericks to stay below the first tax apron, where they are hard capped and still provide a little wiggle room (leaving around $595,000).

Morris is theoretically competing with Gortman, Miller, and Jamarion Sharp. But none of those three will likely earn a standard deal. More likely, that trio of players of players are in their own competition for the Mavs’ final two-way spot. Although Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News said that Lawson could also be in play for a two-way deal, if he re-signs with the Mavericks.

AJ Lawson Signs 2-Way Deal With Mavericks

It is not surprising that Lawson is back in the fold as he appeared to be a favorite of coach Jason Kidd. Lawson appeared in 56 games over the last two years with the Mavericks. He compiled 3.2 points and 1.2 rebounds while shooting 44.6 % from the field over 7.4 minutes in 42 contests in 2023-24.

“A.J. has been great for us,” Kidd told Curtis when Lawson was released. “Unfortunately, they waived him today. We wish him the best of luck. When you look at the athleticism, the way that he has improved, the development. He did everything we asked. There was a big jump in his game, but looking at the numbers, management had to make a decision.”

Lawson had a fantastic summer league campaign this past July, averaging 18.4 points on 47% shooting from the field and 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 rebounds in Vegas. Lawson scored in double-figures in all five games, topping the 20-point mark twice. He then tallied eight points on 3 of 7 shooting, 1 of 4 from deep, and three boards in 2o minutes against the Grizzlies in the Mavs preseason opener.

Lawson is an athletic scorer who is very versatile. He is a fantastic finisher at the rim and a decent defensive rebounder and defender. However, he struggles shooting outside of being around the rim and is not a good ball-handler.

Lawson becomes the third Mavs’ player on a two-way deal, joining Brandon Williams andKessler Edwards. The re-signing of Lawson likely means that Gortman, Miller, and Sharp will begin the season in the G-League with the Texas Legends as affiliate players.