The Dallas Mavericks made one of the most underrated moves of their offseason earlier this week as they beat out the Los Angeles Lakers and signed Spencer Dinwiddie to a one-year deal.
This move officially filled up the Mavs' 15-man roster ahead of training camp in about two months, but Dallas seems to have their sights set on one more move that would shake things up on this roster.
Dallas is intent on re-signing Markieff Morris despite them having a full roster, and this means that the Mavs would somehow have to create a roster spot.
Rumors: A.J. Lawson in danger of getting cut to make room for Markieff Morris
According to NBA insider Marc Stein (subscription required), Mavs young wing A.J. Lawson "is the most vulnerable player on the roster to make room for Morris." Stein has reported for weeks that the Mavs want to re-sign Morris, and now it seems like Lawson is going to have to be cut to make this move possible.
All signs have pointed to Lawson being gone for a couple of weeks now considering Dallas wanted to add guard depth while also keeping Morris, and this summer may mark the end of the road for Lawson's tenure with the Mavs.
Lawson flashed potential as a Maverick and had a strong showing at Summer League in Las Vegas this summer, but Dallas seems to be prioritizing the leadership Morris provides over the possibility that Lawson pans out to be a good rotation player in the NBA.
Waiving Lawson to keep Morris wouldn't necessarily be a bad move considering how valuable Morris was to the Mavericks all season long and during the playoffs, and the organization views him as a vital piece to their success.
Leadership is important and so is chemistry, and Morris' teammates always speak highly of him whenever they have the chance. His experience is valuable to this team, and all indications suggest that Morris will be back in Dallas next season. Re-signing Morris may not seem like a big move on the surface, but his impact off the floor is priceless.
It seems like this will come at the cost of Lawson considering this new rumor, and the Mavs will likely get to keep their outstanding leader from last season and sign him to a veteran minimum deal. It was clear that there wouldn't be room for Lawson on the team after they signed Dinwiddie, and Dallas seems to be looking to move in a different direction.
For all the latest news and rumors on Markieff Morris, A.J. Lawson, and the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, stay plugged in with us.