Mavericks' longtime 7-foot-5 project finally gets his NBA chance as Clippers sign him

Two years ago, the Dallas Mavericks signed Jamarion Sharp to an Exhibit 10 contract. The 7-foot-5 center earned a training camp invite from Dallas after playing for their Summer League team in 2024, and he remained with the organization for the next two years.

Sharp was invited to training camp ahead of the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, but he never made the Mavericks' official roster. Instead, Dallas diligently developed him in the G League. He spent the last two seasons with the Texas Legends, and for the first time in his career, he won't be on the Mavericks for the start of training camp.

It seemed like he would one day get the chance to play for Dallas on a two-way contract, as the durability of their center rotation has been a major variable as of late. Now, that opportunity is off the table for the time being.

Sharp joins the Clippers after multiple seasons in Dallas

According to NBA insider Mike Scotto of HoopsHype, the LA Clippers are signing Sharp to a two-way contract. This is the first two-way contract that the 24-year-old center has ever signed, and he'll have the chance to play his first real minutes as a member of the Clippers next season.

Sharp's future in Dallas already looked uncertain after he played for the Toronto Raptors during the NBA Summer League earlier this month, but this didn't necessarily guarantee his departure.

Players sometimes play with Summer League teams that are different from their previous G League affiliates, and this is exactly what Sharp did. He wasn't tied down to the Legends by any means, and if the Mavs liked what they saw from him playing for the Raptors in Las Vegas, they could've given him a call.

Instead, the Clippers cashed in on his potential by signing him on Tuesday. Sharp was a player that many Mavericks fans always liked, as he has elite size and strong defense, but Dallas never seemed willing to take a big chance on him by offering him a two-way or standard contract.

They always wanted to keep him around, as he played with the Legends for the last two seasons, but they never opted to give him a contract beyond an Exhibit 10 despite having multiple chances to do so.

Sharp's improvement in the Mavericks organization is undeniable

Sharp focused on improving his conditioning and offensive game over the last year or so, and the benefits of him doing so are clear.

He was named the G League Defensive Player of the Year last season after blocking 3.9 blocks per game for the Legends, and his potential as a rim protector was always clear. Sharp's offensive game still needs some work, as his game is still raw and he needs to add strength, but his defense is undeniable.

Standing at 7-foot-5 with a 7-foot-9 wingspan, Sharp swallows up countless shot attempts at the rim. He is easily one of the most impactful defenders from the G League in recent years due to how he alters teams' game plans with his presence down low, and it'll be interesting to see how he pans out in LA with the biggest opportunity of his career.

The Mavericks spent multiple years developing the former Ole Miss Rebel, but those days are over as he heads to the Clippers. Sharp went from a long-term project in Dallas to a player who could play real minutes in LA next season. If he falls flat during his first real NBA opportunity, the Mavericks made a smart bet by not signing him to their Summer League team and giving him a chance to fight for a roster spot. If he excels, the two years developing him may be all for nothing.

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