Mavericks just uncovered another Klay Thompson with the whole league watching

As Cooper Flagg will get a much-deserved rest for the next few months, it's time to figure out who will be getting the final two-way contract for the Dallas Mavericks next season. Ryan Nembhard's confidence is on full display, and he's looked like a solid piece in the actual full-time rotation, showing that he'll be an excellent fit as one of Dallas' two-way players.

We've been getting to see plenty of reps from Miles Kelly, who's been a remarkably confident shooter. Kelly at Auburn wasn't afraid to let it fly early and often. He's showing that fearless mentality so far in a Dallas uniform, and it might just pay off for him in the end, as he is already on a two-way contract. With Klay Thompson reaching his last few years, Dallas badly needs a guy like Kelly to become a knockdown 3-point shooter.

There's still a long way to go, but Kelly could be on the route to becoming the next Thompson if he continues his confidence. The transition from college to the NBA is all about pace, and in Kelly's case, the longer 3-point line. He could become the next Thompson before anybody in the league can even recognize it, or at least start trending in that direction to become a rotation player in this league.

Miles Kelly could become the Klay Thompson protégé before our eyes

It didn't take long for Thompson to become one of the most elite catch-and-shoot stars in the NBA. It was Steve Kerr's off-ball motion that helped Thompson become one of the best 3-point shooters of all time. While the Mavericks don't have the same exact philosophy as Steve Kerr, just Kelly's confidence to let it fly from deep is enough for him to become another Thompson on the court, and Mavs Summer League coach Josh Broghamer has complimented Kelly's ability to knock down shots in a variety of ways, including as a movement shooter.

Kelly could end up becoming an exciting player, but he needs to do more than just shoot. That's why Broghamer has already been working with him on rebounding and passing. His different tools will help him stand out from the rest of his peers.

With what the Mavericks need now, they need 3-point shooting that Spencer Dinwiddie and other role players like Caleb Martin lacked last year. Even when Dinwiddie was tearing up the court with his fadeaway long-range shooting, the Mavericks could feel whenever he would flop in crucial moments. Kelly's shooting alone speaks volumes to what Thompson has done in the NBA thus far, and it might be time for Jason Kidd to give him a look.

Kelly has been staying true to his word so far by staying confident from deep. In the loss against San Antonio, he finished with 11 points on 2-6 shooting from deep while playing in 27 minutes, the third most on the team behind Flagg and Nembhard. Kelly's minutes already look like something more is in the making for him.

As an undrafted player, Kelly is already breaking the mold of what a player like him should be. It's clear he's got a chip on his shoulder, and he wants to prove it to all the other teams that passed up on him. The Mavs are lucky to have a guy like Kelly, and his minutes show that there's something more to him in the future.

Kelly is excited to learn from Thompson, and this potential mentorship could pay off beautifully for him.