Dallas Mavericks will regret moving on from Ray Spalding

The Dallas Mavericks drafted Ray Spalding in the second round in 2018. They will regret moving on from the talented big man so quickly.

Dallas Mavericks fans will remember draft night 2018 for a long time. They traded up to acquire star Luka Doncic. Then, the Mavs selected Jalen Brunson early in round two. Those are two members of the organization for the next decade plus. The Mavericks also drafted Ray Spalding and Kostas Antetokounmpo in the second round.

The blockbuster seven-player trade that saw the Mavs acquire Kristaps Porzingis from the Knicks forced Dallas into needing a roster spot. They decided to waive rookie Ray Spalding who was a member of their 15-man roster, but only played one total minute of NBA action.

Spalding was playing well in the G-League with the Texas Legends, but the crowded frontcourt in Dallas afforded him zero opportunities.

On to Phoenix

The Suns decided to take a chance on Spalding after the Mavs moved on. The 6’10 big man can play both power forward and center. He just turned 22 in March and has plenty of time to develop.

Phoenix gave Spalding a shot late in the season. He played a total of 13 games with the Suns but averaged just 11.3 minutes. During their final three contests, Spalding played over 18 minutes in each. He averaged 10.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game in 23.8 minutes a night.

Shortly before the Mavericks waived him, The Smoking Cuban produced a piece about Spalding being an underrated big man which fans can read here.

The Mavs will regret the decision to move on from Ray Spalding because he should grow into a productive reserve big man in the coming seasons. He can rebound, protect the rim, and throw down a dunk.

Final thoughts

The Dallas Mavericks will regret waiving Ray Spalding. The team has plenty of big men, so getting an opportunity would have been difficult in Dallas. Spalding should excel in Phoenix as the Suns rebuild. Keep an eye on the former Maverick next season.

The Smoking Cuban will have all the Dallas Mavericks offseason content that fans want. It should be an outstanding time to be a Mavs fan with all the free agency and draft buzz surrounding the team, so do not miss a second of the action.