Dallas Mavericks sign Nate Hinton to two-way contract: What does he bring?

Dallas Mavericks sign Nate Hinton to a two-way contract: What does he bring?

The Dallas Mavericks want to jump into title contention next season. They have the youngest superstar in the league in Luka Doncic, and Kristaps Porzingis is a talented 25-year-old second star. The Mavs put a solid cast of role players around them to make the playoffs in 2020, but are a few pieces away from joining the elite tier.

The Mavericks made the first steps on Nov. 18. They drafted three talented rookies and traded for veteran wing Josh Richardson. Dallas wants to improve its defense, add toughness, and find a secondary creator this offseason. They arguably accomplished all three with their draft night additions.

Moments after the draft concluded, the Mavs signed Nate Hinton to a two-way contract, according to GM Donnie Nelson. The 21-year-old went undrafted out of Houston. Let us take a look at his skill set and what he brings to the Mavericks.

Dallas Mavericks add Nate Hinton on a two-way: What does he add to the roster?

Hinton was one of the best rebounding wings in the NCAA last season. He is a strong defender that forced plenty of turnovers. The 6’5 guard competes hard and should be able to guard one through three at the next level. Nelson mentioned Hinton’s toughness and defense in the team’s post-draft press conference.

The Mavericks have emphasized improving in those two areas. The 21-year-old is a project. He showed massive shooting growth in his second year at Houston but will need to continue developing his jumper.

The Mavs hope Hinton can become a 3-and-D rotational wing in a few years. For now, he is on a two-way contract. Do not expect to see him playing significant minutes for the Mavericks this season, but he is another intriguing young piece the organization will attempt to develop.

The Dallas Mavericks are not done making moves this offseason, so fans should keep checking back to The Smoking Cuban for all the latest news and analysis on their roster. Do not miss it.