Dallas Mavericks 24'-25' Outlook
We go over some summer league notes and potential starting lineups for the Mavs.
SUMMER LEAGUE NOTES
Let’s jump right into it, the Mavericks summer league squad was out of sorts. They only managed to win one game against Boston and lost five. Third year man, Brandon Williams is on a two-way contract and showed he can get a bucket when called upon. He is short in stature but can go up against the trees in the paint. He has enough bounce to follow up missed shots for putbacks. He can shoot from long distance and has a nice handle. Shifty enough to get around tight spots and creases in the defense.
I was down on Dallas’ 2024 pick, Melvin Ajinca before the draft. I just didn’t think he was all that impressive, but one thing that always stood out was his size. The kid is 6’8, 218 and honestly looked bigger. Ajinca’s profile is that of a true 3 and D wing and I believe he can show that in the G-League, because he won’t crack a spot on the main roster just yet. He showed confidence when he wasn’t hitting jumpers even though that was the case during the entire stint. Ajinca bodes well in transition, sprinting and catching lobs. He is dexterous, can make some tough shots, fluid motions and utilizes his wingspan effectively. However, he can be sloppy with the ball and struggled shooting. He is a late round pick so in my estimation this is par for the course.
AJ Lawson is entering his third year in the league and played in four Summer League stints. That is not a good sign, so he had a lot riding on this year. I personally think he struggled overall but improved incrementally as the games went on. Some in the organization think his development may have stalled and that may not bode well for him as far as the main roster. As for the positives, he is a nice spot up shooter, he shoots contested threes and is a good cutter. He flashed quickness and was a speed demon on fastbreaks. He can get into his spots, he shown he can be an option to kick the ball in corner and launch. I just don’t think his performance will get him a role on the team but maybe he’s done enough to latch on another squad. Jamarion Sharp is a 7’5, 235 lb. rookie from Ole Miss. This kid is raw and thin with a huge wingspan, and he showed that he can play in this league. Not much of a player that will fill up the stat sheet in points, but in boards and blocks. He has a high motor and flashed dominance at protecting the rim. He was very patient and can read the ball handler’s eyes and knows when to go up for the block. He was given an Exhibit 10 contract which means the Mavs want to keep him around, I think he can fill in nicely within the center rotation in case of emergency.
Unlike Ajinca, I was high on Olivier-Maxence Prosper before he got drafted last year. I was impressed by his high motor on defense especially and the Mavs wanted to see him catch up offensively due to his ability to space the floor (though it’s not HIS game). Prosper had a bit of a rollercoaster Summer League stint, he struggled a bit in trying to create his own shot as Summer League is perfect for guard play. He led the team in scoring for about 2 games after first, hitting step backs from mid-range and showing some ISO moves. That is also what he WON’T be doing during the regular season as the Mavs don’t need him to do that. He is still raw, gets in trouble when he drives to basket thinking he can go through anybody but that isn’t the case. For all his athleticism, he can get lost on screens and cuts. His calling card is on the defensive end and the hope is he can bring his offense to speed, which is what he will need to stay on the floor. He can shoot from the perimeter but it’s the product of defense not respecting him. Prosper has shown some nice spins but they are forced and clunky, they want him to be more aggressive on offense but not at the expense of turning the ball over. He has good anticipation defensively, jump out and intercepts passes. I’m not sure if Dallas is satisfied with his performance, but I think he shown his motor never runs out and he is always going to try and make the best play.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
PG- Kyrie Irving
SG- Luka Doncic
SF- Klay Thompson
PF- P.J. Washington
C- Dereck Lively II
PROJECTED BENCH
PG- Dante Exum, Spencer Dinwiddie
SG- Josh Green, Quentin Grimes, Jaden Hardy
SF- Naji Marshall
PF- Maxi Kleber, Olivier-Maxence Prosper
C- Daniel Gafford, Dwight Powell