4 Young players the Mavericks should develop, 2 to give up on

Don’t Develop: Mike Miles Jr.

The Mavericks signed Miles Jr. to a two-way contract minutes after the draft ended. The 6’1 guard improved in each of his three seasons at TCU, but it was not enough for him to get selected. Miles Jr. was eager to sign with his hometown team, but he will spend most of his time in the G League this season.

The soon-to-be 21-year-old showed flashes in the Las Vegas Summer League as he averaged 12.2 points, 3.8 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.8 steals in 18.8 minutes per game. There is a lot about his game to like, and the Mavericks have had plenty of success with undersized backup point guards.

This one falls in the shouldn’t develop category for two reasons. At 6’1, Miles Jr. is going to struggle on the defensive end in the NBA. He will be a target, and Dallas cannot have a minus-defender playing next to Luka Doncic in the backcourt at all times. Couple that with the 6’1 guard’s inconsistent jumper and the fit is not strong.

The Dallas Mavericks signed Mike Miles Jr. to a two-way contract this offseason, so they should see what he can do. The 20-year-old will report to training camp and likely be the Texas Legends' starting point guard this season. Can he leap and prove he is someone the Mavs should be focused on developing? It is something to watch.