3 Dallas Mavericks takeaways from the NBA2K23 Summer League

The Dallas Mavericks just wrapped up an abysmal outing at the NBA2K23 Summer League in Las Vegas. They were the only winless team at the event. However, there were some takeaways from the summer league that need to be addressed going into training camp, and here are the top three.

Dallas Mavericks Summer League takeaways: 3. Hardy’s Playmaking Maturity

I’m not trying to put down the only Mavs draft selection, but Jaden Hardy needs to work on his playmaking maturity on the court, including when he charges at the basket thinking he‘s going to get a layup over a seven-footer. When the Mavericks played Tako Fall and the Utah Jazz, Fall was swatting away all his layup attempts like a fly.

Also during the Summer League, Hardy was taking way too many 3-pointers when there were other opportunities to score on the court. Hardy might come down to earth a lot if he were to start his career off in Frisco with the Texas Legends. He’s a talented player, but he's too much of a liability to play for the Mavericks at the beginning of his rookie season.

Dallas Mavericks Summer League takeaways: 2. Mavs need to sign Carlik Jones to a two-way contract

Now, this is a long shot since he was outstanding for the Chicago Bulls summer league team, but Carlik Jones deserves a two-way Contract with the Mavericks. Jones averaged 12.2 points a game in Vegas this past week with the Bulls. I think he’s ready to join the Mavericks and become a guard in their rotation.

Based on what I saw in Vegas, there wasn’t another player on the Mavericks team that deserved a two-way contract. If he doesn’t get any playing time with the Mavericks, the team can always send him down to Frisco where the fans love him.

Dallas Mavericks Summer League takeaways: 1. Sign A.J. Lawson to a contract

I would hate to see the Mavericks not sign him and lose him to another team in their division. Dallas does not need to wait until the Kyrie trade goes down to fill that spot. A.J. Lawson deserves it due to his play in the summer league.