Dallas Mavericks: Should Eugene Omoruyi grab a roster spot?

The Dallas Mavericks defeated the LA Clippers 122-114 in their second preseason game on Oct. 8, but the team’s leading scorer may surprise fans after Eugene Omoruyi dropped 19 points in 22 minutes to lead the way. The 6’6 wing spearheaded the fourth-quarter comeback after being part of the ten-man rotation in the first half.

It was an impressive performance from the 24-year-old wing. He made four beautiful cuts to the basket for easy scorers and did well defending on the perimeter. Omoruyi has an NBA-ready body, and he is looking to become a consistent role player in the league.

He is currently on a two-way contract, which means he will spend the majority of his time with the Texas Legends in the G League. Should the Mavs upgrade his contract to give him a place on the 15-man regular season? Was his lights-out performance in the win over the Clippers enough to seal the deal?

Should Dallas Mavericks rookie Eugene Omoruyi grab a roster spot?

Omoruyi plays with energy and effort every time out, which is an endearing quality that's worth building upon. He made four beautiful cuts that resulted in easy buckets to help him finish with 19 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 22 minutes of action versus the Clippers. Omoruyi attacked the rim hard and held his own on the defensive end.

The 6’7 wing had a breakout senior college season at the University of Oregon where he averaged just over 17 points per game. Omoruyi’s 3-point shooting and defense took significant steps forward, and he was on multiple teams’ radars heading into the draft. His age likely held him back, but that was a win for Dallas. He went undrafted and joined the Mavs for the Las Vegas Summer League. They now have a skilled wing that continues to improve his game and is hungry to make the Mavericks' regular season roster.

The Mavs have 16 guaranteed or partially guaranteed contracts heading into this year, which means they are going to have to cut at least one player before the start of the regular season. Omoruyi is on a two-way deal that could be converted to grab one of the team’s 15-man roster positions.

The Mavericks are already going to be forced to waive either Tyrell Terry, Trey Burke, or Moses Brown before the regular season opener on Oct. 21. Converting Omoruyi's contact would man two of the three above would be gone. Does Omoruyi deserve a roster spot over Tyrell Terry, who is currently away form the team? What we know is the 6'6 wing is hungry and improving every day.

Omoruyi does the little things that make a team successful. He is not commanding the ball or running plays. The 24-year-old plays his role and finds smart ways to create an easy two. Expect the Dallas Mavericks to keep him on a two-way contract, and supporters should be watching closely to see how performs when given minutes with the Texas Legends this season.