Mavericks' Jett Howard signing gives them a low-risk swing on forgotten upside

On Monday evening, the Dallas Mavericks waived Tyler Smith and signed Jett Howard to a two-way contract, officially giving them three two-way players ahead of next season (Tobi Lawal, John Poulakidas, and Howard). Smith's future in Dallas looked shaky during Summer League, and Howard gives them a fresh start on the wing.

Signing Howard is the type of low-risk, high-reward move that Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz should be targeting as they fill out the roster around Cooper Flagg, and he has plenty of talent that fans may have forgotten about. Howard was selected with the No. 11 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, and the upside is clearly still there.

Signing Jett Howard is a great low-risk move for Dallas

He was so coveted coming out of Michigan due to his movement shooting and positional size, and these skills are still there. These are both traits that the Mavs have prioritized adding this offseason. Ujiri is known for loving wings with good size, and he has openly stated that he wants to add more shooting around Cooper Flagg this summer, making Howard a perfect fit to round out their trio of two-way players.

Two-way contracts are the perfect way to take a chance on a player who is underappreciated, as they are easy to get out of and provide the team with a good way to develop the player in both the G League and the NBA. There is truly no risk when signing a player to a two-way deal.

All eyes have been on Howard for his entire life, as he is the son of two-time NBA champion Juwan Howard, and while his NBA career hasn't lived up to expectations yet, there are clear reasons to be excited about the Mavericks signing him.

Mavericks double down on upside with Risacher and Howard moves

The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 5.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per game for Orlando last season while shooting a career-high 37.2 percent from downtown. The 22-year-old wing still has plenty of potential, as he was a lottery pick for a reason. It's not easy to find players with elite size and shooting on the wing, and this is one of the main reasons that Orlando liked him enough to take him with the No. 11 pick.

The Mavs have now made multiple low-risk swings for high-profile players that could pay off in a big way in consecutive days.

Just yesterday, the Mavericks traded for Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. All they had to give up to get the young wing from the Atlanta Hawks was Ryan Nembhard and a second-round pick, and this move looks like an absolute steal.

One day later, the Mavericks waived Smith and signed Howard to a two-way deal. The writing was on the wall for Smith following Summer League, and Howard's shooting makes him a stronger fit for the roster than Smith.

While Smith provides strong guard skills and versatility on the wing at 6-foot-9, Howard is a more complementary player who projects better as a potential long-term piece. He's much better off-ball than Smith, and with the Mavericks already having their star in Flagg, bringing in a floor spacer was a safer bet than holding onto a wing who often needs the ball in his hands to make his impact felt.

Howard's offensive game has untapped potential

Smith shot 28.6 percent from three last season in Dallas while Howard shot 37.2 percent from three in Orlando. Shooting is Howard's specialty, while Smith's shooting was a bit of a wildcard despite shooting 37.5 percent from three in the G League last season.

While most of Howard's offensive effectiveness is based upon his 3-point shooting, he also has a decent handle for his size and has three-level scoring potential. He finishes strong at the rim and his jumper is smooth enough that he has the potential to grow into a strong mid-range shooter when attacking closeouts.

The reasons for Mavericks fans to be excited about Howard are clear. He's an incredible shooter, has great size, and clearly has untapped potential after spending three years with the Magic.

Dallas was a great situation for him to come to, as they're a young team that's not in a rush to contend for a title. They can afford to be patient with a player on a two-way deal, and he is bound to get some opportunities for both Dallas and the Texas Legends. Mavs fans will be hoping that he can turn back the clock and reclaim the forgotten upside that made him a lottery pick three years ago.

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