5 Players on Mavericks Summer League team that could make regular season roster

4. Melvin Ajinca

Melvin Ajinca has the potential to eclipse some players in Dallas’ rotation next season if he develops at a fast enough rate, as the 6-foot-8 and 218 pound rookie out of France has already shown flashes of becoming a dynamic 3-and-D wing at the next level.

Ajinca has a unique skillset as a left-handed player at his frame, as he’s very good at attacking off of closeouts en route to finishing with finesse at the rim or pulling up for a mid-range jump-shot. He’s also a very polished catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter in terms of his mechanics, release time, and ability to get his feet set running off of flare and pin-down screens, though consistency and shot selection on 3-point attempts are certainly points of development for him to work on heading into his rookie season.

Ajinca is very skilled for his frame, but adding strength and athleticism will be essential for him if he wants to develop into a high-level role player on the NBA stage, as he could very well struggle with the strength and verticality of NBA rim protectors on attacks to the basket.

Ajinca also isn’t the lankiest guy in the world with his 6-foot-7.5 wingspan, so becoming bouncier and stronger could do wonders for his defensive game. Ajinca seems to have already impressed Mavericks Summer League coach Jared Dudley though, as Dudley spoke glowingly of Ajinca in a post-practice interview session a few days ago.

"He’s taller than me, he can handle and decision-make better, so I can see him doing a little bit of point forward. He’s a 6-8 lefty that can decision-make. I’m not going to say it’s unique, but it’s a high skill set to have in the NBA."

- Jared Dudley

Dudley’s encouraging words about Ajinca could hint at Ajinca making Dallas’ final 15-man roster this coming fall or landing a two-way spot, as the No. 51 pick in this year’s draft could earn himself a guaranteed contract from Dallas if he performs well in Summer League, though he’ll need to work on some of the aforementioned intangibles this summer if he wants to ensure that.