3 Risers, 2 fallers from the Dallas Mavericks' NBA Summer League stint

The Dallas Mavericks have addressed practically all of their needs this summer, as Dallas hauled in their last essential rotation piece by bringing back guard Spencer Dinwiddie on a one-year deal on Monday.

Dinwiddie will be able to provide capable ball handling and playmaking off the bench for the Mavericks, and he’s a player that can thrive alongside other shot creators on the court as well.

Of course, there’s obviously the possibility that Dinwiddie or other Mavericks role players don’t perform up to expectations this coming season, hence why it is essential that Dallas’ developmental players be ready if their name is called upon.

3 Risers, 2 fallers from the Dallas Mavericks' NBA Summer League stint

Dallas just wrapped up NBA 2K25 Summer League, and while there were a lot of encouraging signs and moments from some of Dallas’ pool of recent draft selections and two-way contract players, there were also some players who didn’t perform to the level that fans had hoped for.

At the end of the day though, how Dallas’ Summer League roster performed should be taken with a grain of salt given the fact that Summer League tends to be more of a hectic environment and is such a small sample size to nitpick.

However, there are still players from Dallas’ Summer League roster who could very well play a solid role for the team next season if certain things fall into place. Here are three risers and two fallers from the Mavericks' five Summer League games in Las Vegas.

5. Riser - A.J. Lawson

A.J. Lawson's third Summer League stint with the Dallas Mavericks was arguably his best one yet, as Lawson stepped up as a driver and finisher in a secondary ball handler role for the Mavericks in Las Vegas. Lawson had a rough go shooting the ball from distance in a few of Dallas' Summer League contests and finished shooting only 30.8 percent from outside in five games, but his makes were impressive, as he was often coming off-the-move and off-the-catch on many of his attempts.

Lawson's confidence on offense improved steadily through each game in Summer League, and though he didn't showcase that his ball handling and playmaking abilities are at an elite level yet, it's definitely apparent that he's getting more adapt at using his athleticism and quickness to catch defenders off guard in one-on-one scenarios.

Lawson still has the potential to become a high level 3-and-D role player who specializes at defending the point-of-attack, and he showcased in Las Vegas that his length and athleticism can be tantalizing for opponents when he blitzes ball screens in a timely manner, as many of those instances often led to Lawson finishing with a high-flying slam in transition on the other end.

Around more dynamic NBA playmakers and floor spacers, Lawson may have an opportunity to to let his athletic tools and energy flourish for the Mavericks this coming season in a role off the bench, but he still has some tough odds to overcome even after finishing Summer League on a solid note. Lawson may have his last opportunity this coming training camp to solidify a spot in Dallas after signing a non-guaranteed contract last season, so he'll likely need to prove that his outside shot is legit if he wants to continue his momentum from Summer League onto the court for the Mavericks this coming fall.