Mavericks sharpshooter just reminded Dallas why they can’t afford to cut him

After a long wait, John Poulakidas finally delivered a performance worth remembering for Dallas Mavericks fans during the Las Vegas Summer League. Not only did Poulakidas ensure that his shooting hasn't lost its touch, but he also once again proved why he deserves to remain on the Mavericks' two-way roster.

After shooting 6-for-19 in their previous three summer league games, Poulakidas finally put together a strong shooting performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder with 19 points and a 5-for-12 shooting display from behind the 3-point line. While Poulakidas is currently on the Mavericks roster, there was plenty of discourse amongst fans about whether or not he deserved to be on a two-way roster spot, and after a strong performance, the former Yale graduate put fans' doubts to bed. Dallas can’t afford to cut him.

John Poulakidas' shooting is too good not to have on the roster

Last season, Poulakidas became a bright spot on a roster that didn't see many positive takeaways. In his 13 games, the sharpshooter gave the Mavericks an edge in shooting they had not seen on the roster, and he became a valuable piece alongside Cooper Flagg as the 19-year-old rookie had some of his best offensive success with Poulakidas' floor spacing.

While it wasn't a surprise to see the former Yale Bulldog on Dallas' Summer League roster, it was interesting to watch him struggle on the offensive side of the floor at first, and it even had some fans worried about his status on the team next season with how easy two-way deals are to navigate.

There's no doubt that Poulakidas' shooting and lack of shot-making and taking was starting to look like a confidence issue; however, his recent performance against the Thunder proved why Mavericks fans had so much faith in him over the last handful of games last season. After shooting the three ball at a 40.3 percent clip last season, many fans were starting to believe Poulakidas had the chance to be on the Mavericks' roster next season, and their wish may have finally been granted.

Poulakidas, like any player on a two-way spot, doesn't have their next season roster spot guaranteed, but with a strong Summer League game and confidence heading into training camp later this year, he may once again be suiting up for the Mavericks.

There was no reason to doubt Poulakidas' shooting

Coming into the league, Poulakidas was known as one of the best shooters of his draft class, which is the main reason why he is still in the NBA. There's no doubt that Poulakidas needs to develop other facets of his game to ensure his longevity in the league, but if his shooting stays sharp, the Mavericks can't afford to be without him.

This offseason, the Mavericks have made a clear effort to surround Flagg with floor spacing in the likes of Santi Aldama and Tarik Biberovic, but adding Poulakidas to that list on a two-way deal only makes sense. Once again, alongside Poulakidas' floor spacing, Flagg saw some of his best offensive performances of the season, which is why it makes sense to keep him.

During the Summer League, Poulakidas has been asked to take shots he wouldn't normally try in an NBA game, and whether it's just to see if he has that potential or skill level, his shot-chucking in Las Vegas won't be a regular sight in the NBA.

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