Report: Mavericks sign 6-foot-5 defensive specialist to contract

The Dallas Mavericks have signed 6-foot-5, 210-pound swingman Dexter Dennis to an Exhibit 10 contract, per MavsDraft.com correspondent Richard Stayman.

Dennis spent the 2022-23 season with the Texas A&M Aggies as he exercised his fifth year of post-graduate eligibility to stay for an extra year. He played his first four seasons of collegiate hoops with Wichita State, where he won AAC Defensive Player of the Year in the 2021-22.

With a 6-foot-11 wingspan and a solid frame, Dennis has the physical tools to be an intriguing defender in the NBA. The Mavericks will always welcome any additional help on the perimeter they can get after finishing with the 25th-worst defensive rating in the league last season.

Inconsistency on spot-ups three-point shots, as well as lack of creativity on drives, translated into a 37.3% field goal percentage and 33.6% three-point percentage throughout his collegiate career, and he'll need to improve the consistency of his movement on his shooting base and release.

Dennis' undeniable defensive versatility should make him a potential candidate for the Mavericks last two-way roster spot, as the other two spots are currently occupied by Mike Miles Jr. and A.J Lawson. However, if Dennis' shooting isn't as transferable as his defense is to the NBA game, it will become very hard for him to fit the mold as a prototypical 3&D player for this Mavericks roster.

Dennis played 4 games for the Orlando Magic's NBA Summer League roster this summer. He averaged 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game in 19 minutes per contest.

You can see the 24 year old showcase his instinctive cutting, athleticism in the open and half court, and on-ball defense in this clip from @MavsDraft on Twitter.

Dennis will have plenty of competition this upcoming training camp. Mavericks Summer League standouts Jordan "Jelly" Walker and Taze Moore are both inked to Exhibit-10 deals as well and will certainly be pining for one of the last roster spots or two-way slots.

Dennis' road to playing time with the Mavericks won't be easy, but if he improves his shot, he'll be an interesting player to monitor going forward as the Mavericks approach training camp.