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

The Dallas Mavericks still want to improve their roster. Fresh off a disappointing season (subscription required) where they missed the playoffs, Dallas knew they had to get younger and more athletic. It led to an exceptional summer that saw them re-sign Kyrie Irving, trade for Grant Williams, and add two rookies that could be impactful for years to come. The Mavs are still searching for trades, but they should be happy with what they accomplished so far.

Dallas had just two young talents on their roster last year, but both developed well under head coach Jason Kidd and his staff. That gave the Mavericks front office even more reason to add youth to the roster. They added three rookies to get excited about, but fans should be patient. All three need time to develop.

Who should the Mavs be focused on improving? They want to build a title contender around Luka Doncic quickly, but having talent on rookie contracts is a massive help. Dallas has to decide which players are key pieces of their future and how to maximize them.

4 Players the Dallas Mavericks should develop, 2 they shouldn’t

Develop: Dereck Lively II

The Mavs traded back from tenth to 12th in the 2023 NBA Draft, but Lively II was always their target. They have a massive hole at the five, and the 7’1 big man was considered the second-best center in the class by most experts.

Fans should not expect too much too soon from the lottery selection. The 19-year-old spent just one season at Duke where he averaged 5.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in 20.6 minutes per game. Lively II is not ready to be the Mavericks starting center as a rookie, and he is years away from playing 30 minutes every night.

Dallas should bring him along slowly as they look to maximize his development. Start him out as the backup center and encourage improvement at every turn. The 19-year-old is a strong rebounder and shot-blocker that needs to learn how to play in the NBA.

Dereck Lively II is a key piece for the Dallas Mavericks moving forward, and they are eager to continue developing the talented 19-year-old.

Develop: Olivier Maxence-Prosper

The Mavericks surprisingly nabbed a second first-round pick on draft night for taking on Richaun Holmes’ contract, and they took Maxence-Prosper 24th overall. The 6’8 wing played three years of college basketball where he improved every season. Some questioned if Maxence-Prosper would even be drafted, but a standout performance at the combine helped his draft stock skyrocket.

Dallas is excited about his potential, and fans saw glimpses during summer league. The 21-year-old is far from a finished product, but he did average 12.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 0.8 steals in 25.4 minutes per game in Las Vegas.

The Mavs are hoping O-Max turns into their Dorian Finney-Smith replacement. The 6’8 forward can guard multiple positions and has a developing jumper. Can Dallas help him become an above-league-average 3-point shooter and unlock his potential?

It will take some time, but O-Max could quickly crack the rotation as a reserve. The 21-year-old’s energy is contagious, and he brings plenty to the floor that does not show up in the box score.

The Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd and his staff are eager to help Olivier Maxence-Prosper develop. The 6’8 forward has prototypical NBA size and a willingness to work, which bodes well for his development. Dallas believes they can get the best out of him, but time will tell.

Don’t Develop: A.J. Lawson

This isn’t fair to Lawson. He was waived by the Timberwolves in December of 2022, and the Mavs quickly picked him up on a two-way contract. He played just 106 total NBA minutes and did not get a real shot until the final two games of the regular season where he averaged 11.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game.

Beyond that, Lawson dominated the G League by averaging 18.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 26.7 minutes per game over ten regular season contests. The 6’6 wing proved he is too good for that level.

If Lawson dominated the G League and showed promise when given an opportunity in the NBA, why shouldn’t the Mavericks be focused on his development? It is a simple numbers game. Dallas added Grant Williams, Seth Curry, Dante Exum, and Olivier Maxence-Prosper to play on the wing this summer. All four of those players are ahead of Lawson in the pecking order, and that leaves off returning talents like Josh Green and Jaden Hardy.

The Dallas Mavericks do not have minutes to give the 23-year-old wing. A.J. Lawson is back on a two-way contract, and the franchise should keep him around and let him dominate the G League, but they should not prioritize his development.

Develop: Josh Green

Green was the 18th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, and it was a slow start. He barely played in Rick Carlisle’s final year as head coach, and the pandemic limited his opportunities in the G League. Green got more run in year two, but he was teetering on bust status before an offseason of work helped him become part of the nightly rotation.

The 6’5 wing averaged 9.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 25.7 minutes per game last season, and he is hoping to build on that in year four. The 22-year-old brings energy and has shown some playmaking ability. His jumper continues to improve, and the Mavericks are hoping some added confidence leads to more 3-point attempts.

The Dallas Mavericks were hoping they could transform Josh Green into a modern 3-and-D wing. Someone that can shoot, defend multiple positions, and handle the ball in a pinch. His defense needs improvement both on and off the ball, but the other aspects of his game are coming along nicely.

The Mavs need to extend Green’s contract and focus on getting the best out of him. The 6’5 wing is a key part of their rotation. They need young players that can grow alongside Luka Doncic if they want to be title contenders for years to come. Locking Green in now should come at a discount, and that too could be massive as they try to build out their roster.

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.

Develop: Jaden Hardy

Hardy surprisingly slipped into the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft, and the Mavericks traded back in to select him 37th overall. He was the number two player in the class coming out of high school, but an up-and-down season with the G League Ignite tanked his draft stock. Dallas was eager to select him, and the 6’4 guard proved plenty of teams wrong as a rookie.

The 21-year-old can flat-out get buckets. His ball-handling and playmaking need time to develop, but his scoring ability is unquestionable. Over the final 16 games of last season, Hardy averaged 13.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 21.1 minutes per contest. The 6’4 guard looks to be the team’s sixth man of the present and future.

Hardy is a hard worker that will keep improving. There were some frustrations in summer league as he was asked to play as the primary creator. The 21-year-old is not best suited to that role. He creates well for himself and can score from anywhere on the floor. The Mavs will let him attack as they attempt to harness his playmaking ability.

The Dallas Mavericks have young talent to be excited about. Luka Doncic is just 24 years old, and the team has put pieces around him that could blossom. Can they get the best out of them? Stay tuned to find out.