Dallas Mavericks boldly waive young wing for second time in 10 days

October 21 is the last official day for NBA teams to set their rosters before the season begins.

Often, teams have their initial rosters set well before that October 21 deadline, but that may not be the case for many teams regarding two-way and veteran minimum roster deals.

In the Dallas Mavericks' case, the team had its 18-man roster set heading into the final preseason game of the year, but the emergence of one of their young guards made things cloudy for every player on a two-way roster spot.

Mavericks waive A.J. Lawson again

It was announced earlier this morning that forward A.J. Lawson would be waived along with two more non-guaranteed players Emanuel Miller and Jamarion Sharp.

Although it may seem harsh, the NBA is ultimately a business and some players face tough situations. Fan-favorite forward Lawson, who signed a two-way deal with the Mavericks just last week after being waived two days before, has once again been waived. However, this time it could be permanent.

Lawson spent the last two seasons with the Mavericks becoming one of the few success stories in the league to make the final roster after being on a two-way deal with the team throughout a season. Lawson not only impressed at times but also became a fan-favorite during his tenure in Dallas as he always brought energy during his time on the floor.

Lawson's defensive upside along with his athleticism made him a prospect the Mavericks couldn't let go for nothing. After signing with the Mavs last season and joining the 15-man roster, many fans expected Lawson to take the leap into becoming a fringe rotation player. Lawson was not only inefficient when on the floor but his minutes seemingly got cut in half throughout the season.

While it is cruel for a player like Lawson to be waived multiple times this summer, the Mavericks are making the right move. Since the Mavs started training camp at the beginning of October, guard Jazian Gortman has looked like a potential difference-maker, and it was reported by ESPN's Tim MacMahon that he will get the final two-way spot.

The Mavericks initially signed Gortman to a non-guaranteed deal, which meant the young guard would get to spend training camp with the team and have the ability to showcase his skills against NBA-level talent.

Gortman has not only shined in all four preseason games he has appeared in, but after just one showing, fans were already clamoring for the team to sign the former OTE standout.

As of Friday afternoon, it's unclear what Lawson's future looks like moving forward.