Mavericks finalize roster by signing potential-filled wing to one-year deal

The past seven months have been filled with roster moves for A.J. Lawson.

Lawson was on a two-way deal last season with the Dallas Mavericks, and after the Mavs traded more players at the trade deadline than they acquired, they ended up having an open roster spot. Dallas pursued Spencer Dinwiddie on the buyout market, but after he decided to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Mavs decided to convert Lawson's two-way deal to a standard contract in early March.

Lawson always brought energy in his minutes, and the Mavs rewarded him for his hard work by signing him to a standard deal.

Lawson showed off his development for the Mavs in the Summer League, but things began to get interesting for him when rumors began to emerge that the Mavs would be re-signing Markieff Morris. In order to make room for Morris on the 15-man roster, the Mavs waived Lawson after one preseason game, but it doesn't look like he is going anywhere after all.

Mavericks fill final roster spot by signing A.J. Lawson

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Mavs have signed Lawson to a two-way deal to bring him back to the team. Lawson has been highly regarded within the organization for some time now, and the Mavs made a deal to make sure that he'd be returning to the team and to continue developing him. With Lawson on the roster, the Mavs now have 15 players on their main roster, and all three two-way spots are filled.

Last season for Dallas, Lawson played in 42 games and averaged 3.2 points per game while shooting 44.6 percent from the field, and now he has another chance to prove to the Mavs and the rest of the NBA that he deserves a standard contract.

Lawson's specialties are his athleticism and energy, and showing a more complete offensive game will be crucial this season. He only shot 26 percent from three last season, and that number must go up for him to prove he deserves a spot on a team in the league.

Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 179 pounds, Lawson's frame is a bit too skinny to be an elite defender on bigger wings, and getting stronger is one thing he could focus on moving forward to help make him a better defender. The lateral quickness is there, and he can effectively defend shooting guards, but his positional versatility when guarding up could be a concern.

All of the potential is there for Lawson. He can jump out of the gym, brings outstanding energy, and often brings a spark off the bench when checking into the game, and consistency will be key for him in carving out a spot in the rotation this season.

The Mavs' roster is stacked, and he'll have to make the most of his minutes every time he steps on the floor if he wants Jason Kidd to utilize him during the regular season.

Lawson is always hustling and showing off his athleticism, and the Mavs could use him for wing depth off the bench if they get hit with the injury bug at some point in the season.