It's not even training camp but Mavericks rookie is already on thin ice

Just over 24 hours after the Dallas Mavericks drafted Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick, they made another move that fans absolutely loved immediately. Dallas signed Ryan Nembhard after the conclusion of the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, and even though training camp is still a few weeks away, he is already on thin ice with his new team.

This is nothing Nembhard can help just yet, as he was spectacular at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and showcased a team-first attitude, but the guard depth that is in front of him may be too much for him to handle as a rookie. His road to getting real minutes is going to be a tough one, and it's all thanks to the job Nico Harrison has done filling out the backcourt this summer.

Even though Harrison has been criticized for not trading for another guard to help hold them over until Kyrie Irving returns from his ACL tear, the Mavericks' backcourt room is underrated, and Nembhard will have to pass multiple high-level players to earn a spot in Jason Kidd's normal rotation.

Nembhard must beat out a stacked Mavs backcourt to earn playing time

Kidd's rotations typically don't roll deep, as he has a history of giving about nine players a decent role, and the team's guard depth is already strong. Having Nembhard as a depth option is definitely a major help, as injuries happen, but he'll have to prove a lot to climb the ranks and become a key difference-maker.

Point guards who are likely in front of Nembhard for the time being include Brandon Williams, Dante Exum, D'Angelo Russell, and obviously Irving once he returns, and training camp is going to be Nembhard's first chance to begin to win over Kidd and his staff. He left an outstanding first impression on the Mavs with his poise, passing, shooting, and hard-nosed defense at Summer League, and even his offseason workouts before heading out to Las Vegas showed the Mavs how much of a steal they got in him.

He ran five-on-five with current Mavs players like P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall, and Jaden Hardy, and he was already making NBA-level reads. This is one of the strongest parts about his game, as he has a deep understanding for the game that can't be taught, and this helped him become one of the best passers in the NCAA last season.

Nembhard racked up 344 assists in his final season at Gonzaga, which ranks fifth all-time for a single season in NCAA history, and he'll be hoping that his playmaking can help carry him out of Kidd's doghouse to begin the season.

Nembhard is already one of the best passers on the team, as Russell and Irving may be the only two guards who have an edge over him in that area, but it's going to take much more than lobs and skip passes for Nembhard to show Kidd he deserves minutes every night.

Nembhard is on a two-way deal, meaning he can only be active for 50 games, and him getting as close to that 50-game mark will be a good indicator of how good of a season he had. He is stepping into an uphill battle as a Maverick, and the ice below him will begin to thicken if he starts the preseason strong.