Is the Roster Already Set For the Dallas Mavericks?

With only a few days before the start of training camp, the roster for the Dallas Mavericks could already be set.

Over the past multiple years, the Dallas Mavericks have went into training camp with at least one or two roster spots to be earned.

But this year, it could be different.

After returning 11 players from last year’s team, the Mavericks will already be riding the continuity wave as the same basic core is back. Assuming those 11 players (Ferrell, Harris, Barea, Barnes, Finney-Smith, Powell, Nowitzki, Mejri, Matthews, Noel, Curry) are locked into the roster, that leaves four more roster spots and two, two-way roster spots.

First off, the four regular season roster spots.

The Dallas Mavericks selected Dennis Smith Jr. with the 9th overall pick in the draft and are handing the reigns of the offense over to him as the starting point guard. So we know the 19-year-old is one of those spots.

The Mavericks also took on the contract of Josh McRoberts this summer from Miami in a move that netted them some extra cash to use in the future. McRoberts is an expiring contract for around $6 million dollars that will be on the roster on opening night.

This leaves two open roster spots.

The Mavericks made non-Nowitzki news in Germany this summer when they signed the 25-year-old Maxi Kleber to a three-year deal, with the first year being fully guaranteed. He is a 6’10 big man who is from the same town as Dirk Nowitzki and could be a nice developmental project for the Mavs.

Even though Dallas isn’t shy about cutting guys with guaranteed deals, from the way it seems, Kleber seems to be making the final roster barring a horrific training camp.

Lastly, on August 21st, the Mavericks came to terms on a two-year, non-guaranteed deal with free agent center, Jeff Withey. Withey spent the 2016-17 season with the Utah Jazz and now comes to camp where he will compete for backup center minutes with Salah Mejri and Dwight Powell.

To my understanding, Withey is projected to be on the roster. Out of the other non-guaranteed deals, Withey was also the only player to receive a two-year, non-guaranteed deal compared to just one year.

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With Smith Jr., McRoberts, Withey and Kleber, this takes the roster to a count of 15 players.

Johnathan Motley is signed to a two-way deal and is counted towards the 17-man roster.

This leaves Gian Clavell, Brandon Ashley, Maalik Wayns, and P.J. Dozier on the outside looking in coming into training camp. With the plethora of bigs and point guards, I would go ahead and cross Ashley and Wayns off the final roster list.

Clavell and Dozier could be intriguing, but they would have to have a stellar camp to make a run at a final regular season roster spot. But as far as the final two-way contract the Mavs still have in their back pocket, an impressive camp could warrant that.

For me, the regular season roster is set heading into camp and the only thing roster wise up for grabs is the second two-way contract.

Next: 3 Things to Listen For on Media Day in Dallas

Training camp for the Dallas Mavericks won’t be about roster spots and making the cut, all of the storylines will surround who proves they are worthy of playing time.