4 non-guaranteed players that could make the Mavericks' final roster

The Dallas Mavericks have some formidable guys that they’ve brought in this training camp on Exhibit 10 and two-way contracts. The Mavericks currently have two out of their three two-way slots filled by AJ Lawson and Mike Miles Jr., but there are a slew of guys pining for the last two-way spot as we get through the rest of the preseason and training camp.

The Mavericks technically can open up more spots if they waive any of their two-way players or waive Markieff Morris, whose deal is supposedly only partially guaranteed this upcoming season.

With that being said though, the most likely route is that Dallas heads into the current season by converting whichever Exhibit 10 guy that shows out the most during training camp and preseason into a two-way contract instead. Dallas has returning player rights for all of their Exhibit 10 guys, so luckily they may still get a chance to develop the guys who aren’t good enough to be on the standard roster on a two-way contract in Frisco with the Texas Legends this upcoming season.

4 non-guaranteed players that could make the Mavericks' final roster

That being said though, the front office still has work to do in regard to figuring out who will be on the final two-way spot or even the last remaining regular roster spot if it becomes available.

Here are four non-guaranteed players who will make a case for the final two-way roster spot in Dallas this season.

4. Joe Wieskamp

Joe Wieskamp was impressive in his six minutes and 45 seconds of playing time in the Dallas Mavericks' preseason debut against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Abu Dhabi.

He knocked down an open three-point look and played stout defense when he got in the game, but unfortunately, Wieskamp played the second-fewest minutes out of any Maverick in their preseason debut and barely saw any action in the Mavs' second preseason game. Coaches tend to fluctuate minutes between Exhibit 10 players and two-way players during preseason frequently, so hopefully Wieskamp gets more of a chance to prove himself as these games progress.

Wieskamp averaged 14.8 points per game with great efficiency in his junior season at Iowa. The 6-foot-6 wing posted a field goal percentage of 49.1 percent and shot a blazing 46.2 percent from outside as well. He spent his rookie season with the San Antonio Spurs and their G League affiliate before being waived prior to the genesis of the 2022-23 NBA season.

Wieskamp later signed with the G-League's Wisconsin Herd shortly after being waived by San Antonio and was able to prove himself enough to earn a deal with the Toronto Raptors. Despite a strong summer league showing where he was second in scoring on the Raptors' Summer League squad averaging 13.5 points per game, Wieskamp was waived by the Raptors on July 17 before being picked up by Dallas this summer.

Wieskamp has a promising frame and moved well in his preseason debut with Dallas, but he'll need to continue to show out throughout training camp and preseason if he wants to win the Mavericks' last two-way spot.

3. Greg Brown III

Greg Brown II admittedly looked a little sporadic in his first preseason game in Dallas. The former Texas Longhorn struggled to defend Minnesota’s bigs, but it definitely didn’t help that he was playing a little bit out of position at center due to him primarily being featured in lineups with the Mavs’ two way and Exhibit 10 guys where he was the only player above 6-foot-6 on the court for the Mavs when he was playing.

Brown III battled as much as he could against the likes of Luka Garza and Naz Reid, but he’s better suited playing on the wing. He did however play much better defensively in the Mavericks' second preseason game versus Minnesota, using his length and athleticism to disrupt attempts at the rim and outside, whilst also getting a tough and-one layup and two-handed dunk over Leonard Miller.

In an exclusive interview with The Smoking Cuban, Brown III talked about what sort of intangibles he’ll need to have if he hopes to make the Mavs’ final roster as well as how he thinks he can fit in playing alongside Luka Doncic and company.

At 6-foot-8, Brown III is an uber-athletic forward with great length. Idealistically, he would be the guy that breaks through to earn the Mavericks' final two-way roster spot, but that’s betting on the fact that he starts banking in on some of his potential.

Brown III has been riddled by inconsistent 3-point shooting throughout his first two seasons in the league with the Portland Trailblazers, and will also need to make more of a mark as a cutter and short roller in the final few preseason games if he wishes to grab the Mavs last two-way roster spot. Brown III may have the most potential on this list, but our next candidate has cemented a greater track record in Dallas so far.

2. Jordan "Jelly" Walker

Jordan “Jelly” Walker was one of the more impressive performers on the Mavs’ Summer League roster this July in Las Vegas.

After he didn’t really get the initial opportunities he wanted, the former "Jelly Fam" sensation filled up the box score for Dallas as the primary shot creator in the last few games. He scored 22 points against the Atlanta Hawks in the Summer League on a hyper-efficient 58.3 percent field goal percentage and really controlled the pace of the game for Dallas as a floor general.

Walker was the Conference USA Player of the Year in 2022 when he played for UAB and averaged over 22 points per game last season. At 5-foot-11, Walker has defied expectations his entire career to make it up to this point. He’s a very dynamic shot creator and knows how to create space to fire off 3-pointers and mid-range jump shots.

Walker has played relatively well thus far in the Mavericks' two preseason games versus Minnesota in Abu Dhabi. He's only gotten in toward the end of the game as has been the case for most of the Exhibit 10 and two-way players, but he's produced as a big-time shot-maker when the game got tight during both fourth quarters in Abu Dhabi.

However, with the Mavericks being overstaffed at the guard position, only time will tell if Dallas’ front office places more importance on bringing in a player that fits better or just the better overall talent. If it’s the latter, Walker may have the best case out of any of the Exhibit 10 guys who are in training camp right now to slide into the final two-way roster spot that Dallas has.

If he can continue to improve his playmaking and defense, Walker could find himself on Dallas' final roster.

1. Dexter Dennis

After Dexter Dennis officially signed with the Mavericks on an Exhibit 10 deal this past summer, he very well may have solidified himself as the leader in the clubhouse for the Mavericks' final two-way spot after two preseason games. Dennis posted averages of nine points per game, three rebounds per game, and a 3-point field goal percentage of 35.7 percent during his time playing for the Orlando Magic’s Summer League team this past July in Las Vegas.

Dennis has an NBA-ready body at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds. He also has a nearly 7-foot wingspan and won AAC Defensive Player of the Year in the 2021-22 NCAA season playing for Wichita State before transferring to Texas A&M for his final season of collegiate hoops.

Dennis has been impressive early on in Dallas’ two preseason games. He’s played great individual defense on the wing and at the point of attack and was disruptive as a transition defender on multiple possessions in the Mavericks’ second game in Abu Dhabi.

Dennis’ shot is also coming into form as his mechanics look extremely good thus far en route to nailing three 3-point baskets so far in preseason play. He also had a ferocious slam after a good pump fake to get by the close-out defender in the fourth quarter of the Mavericks’ second preseason game versus the Timberwolves.

A ball-stopping wing who can guard multiple positions and shoot well while also being dynamic on offense is the archetype of player that Dennis is, and the Mavs can never have too many of those. There also seems to be a call to action for someone to step up from the wing position on this Mavs roster, as it isn’t necessarily understaffed, but doesn’t have as much proven talent toward the back half of the depth chart as is ideal.

Dennis may have very well planted himself in a position to get the Mavs’ final two-way roster spot, but only time will tell. We’ll have you covered with Dennis and how the rest of the Mavs’ roster fares in their remaining two preseason games ahead of the regular season starting on October 25 in San Antonio.