1 Question for every Dallas Mavericks player as countdown to NBA Playoffs begins

9. A.J. Lawson

What has A.J. Lawson's development looked like since he signed a standard contract and how will the Dallas Mavericks utilize him moving forward?

After trading away three players while only acquiring two players at the trade deadline, the Dallas Mavericks had an open roster spot that they tried to fill on the buyout market. The Mavs pursued Spencer Dinwiddie, but they shifted their focus after he ended up signing with the Los Angeles Lakers.

They were not linked to anyone else after Dinwiddie joined the Lakers, and they ended up converting A.J. Lawson's two-way contract to a standard contract. Lawson has shown promise in limited minutes for the Mavs and especially in the G League, but it's unclear how he fits in the team's overall plan moving forward.

This season, Lawson is averaging 3.5 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the field.

With the Mavs being extremely deep at guard, there isn't a spot in the rotation for Lawson, especially this season. Jaden Hardy, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Dante Exum are all ahead of him, and I don't see the Mavs integrating Lawson into the rotation now.

That isn't to say that Lawson will never be in the rotation, but it may take him a few years before he is trusted with valuable minutes. Lawson has shown flashes that he deserves minutes, but that's not a conversation to have now with the playoffs nearing.