Mavericks get unreal steal by signing underrated 3-and-D wing to contract

Noah Weber

Kessler Edwards / Alika Jenner/GettyImages

While NBA free agency has seemingly slowed down around the NBA over the last few weeks, things picked back up this week for the Dallas Mavericks.

While Dallas started off the offseason busy as they signed Naji Marshall and completed a sign-and-trade for Klay Thompson within the first few days of free agency opening, it had been quiet for the Mavs until the last couple of days.

Dallas began the week by beating out the Los Angeles Lakers and signing Spencer Dinwiddie to a one-year deal. On Friday, the Mavs made another move to bring in a free agent.

Mavericks sign Kessler Edwards to two-way contract

According to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Mavs signed Kessler Edwards to a two-way contract, now leaving them with one more two-way spot.

Edwards settling for a two-way contract is a bit of a surprise considering his skill level, and this move was an absolute steal for Dallas. Edwards appeared in 54 games for the Sacramento Kings last season and averaged 1.7 points per game while shooting 41.5 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from downtown.

Although the numbers don't show it, Edwards is a solid scorer on the wing and a great shooter. Edwards isn't afraid to let it fly, and he has also flashed a baseline ability to attack closeouts and finish in the paint or with a mid-range jumper.

While he is oftentimes known for his shooting, he is also an excellent defender. Standing at 6-foot-8 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, Edwards has the frame to guard effectively on the wing, and the film backs that up. He works hard on that end and makes life hard for whoever he is guarding.

He has the ability to full-court press bigger ball handlers when needed and leaves no airspace. Edwards' versatile defense has been underrated for the last couple of years, and he is only going to get better as a member of the Mavs.

Edwards will likely play plenty for the Texas Legends next season, and this could propel him into earning a standard contract with the Mavs one day. You can never have too many 3-and-D wings, and Edwards fills in that role excellently.

This move for Edwards leaves the Mavs with one more two-way roster spot, as they already signed Brandon Williams earlier this offseason.

For all the latest on Kessler Edwards and the Dallas Mavericks, stay plugged in with us.

Noah Weber

Noah Weber is the Site Expert for The Smoking Cuban, covering the Dallas Mavericks as a credentialed media member since the 2022-23 season. With a Bachelor of Science in Sports Media from Oklahoma State University, Noah has worked in sports journalism since 2019. While he's covered the Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma State Cowboys, he has now established himself as a go-to voice for Mavericks coverage. Noah's expertise includes in-depth game analysis, social media content creation, and offering unique perspectives through his reporting. His work has been featured on major platforms such as ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Overtime. During his time at Oklahoma State, Noah won first place in the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association Awards for a show he co-produced. Outside of covering the Mavs, Noah enjoys working out, playing basketball and Spikeball, and spending quality time with friends and family.