Predicting which Mavericks two-way players will actually crack Dusty May's rotation

The start of training camp is just days away, as the Dallas Mavericks will have their first training-camp practice this Saturday. Dallas' roster is pretty much set in stone, except for the team giving Dwight Powell a chance to fight for a roster spot, and this includes their three two-way spots that are occupied by Jett Howard, John Poulakidas, and Tobi Lawal.

This isn't to say that the Mavericks couldn't move on from one of these players during the preseason if they struggle, as two-way roster spots are not fully guaranteed, but all three players seem poised to remain on the roster heading into the regular season.

Each player brings a unique skill set to the team as they look to snap a two-year playoff drought, but it's extremely unlikely that all three of Poulakidas, Howard, and Lawal earn consistent minutes in Dusty May's rotation. Here's a look at how they stack up ahead of training camp.

3. Tobi Lawal

Mavericks fans seem the most excited about Tobi Lawal compared to Poulakidas and Howard after seeing him play in Summer League, but he has an uphill battle to receive playing time as a rookie.

Lawal's struggles as a shooter, combined with his rawness on the offensive end, make him a long shot to be relied upon early on, but that changes if May needs more defense. He has the intangibles to grow into a strong defender at 6-foot-8, and his athleticism combined with his energy could help him earn minutes in certain situations.

The fact of the matter, though, is that Dallas has too many forwards for Lawal to have a clear path to playing time as a rookie. Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington, and Naji Marshall headline a talented group on the wing, and with Lawal's offensive game being limited, his best fit as a rookie will likely be at power forward.

Expect Lawal to spend some time with the Texas Legends in the G League if he can't crack May's rotation, as his first season will likely be focused on development rather than immediate minutes.

2. Jett Howard

Jett Howard was the most hyped of these three players entering the NBA, as the Orlando Magic used a lottery pick to draft him in 2023, but he has not lived up to the hype. He has averaged just 4.5 points per game for his career while shooting 32.6 percent from beyond the arc. This includes two seasons of shooting worse than 30 percent from three.

Howard was marketed as a shooter heading into the NBA, but before shooting 37.2 percent from long range last season, he had not been a strong shooter.

If Howard continues the success that he had as a shooter last season, we could see him secure a limited role in May's rotation when they need more outside shooting. If not, he could find himself at the end of the bench.

His game is fairly limited outside of his shooting despite showing some flashes as a three-level scorer due to his underrated handle and decent finishing, but the 23-year-old is unfortunately in a stacked wing rotation that has little room.

1. John Poulakidas

John Poulakidas has already proven that he can thrive in the Mavericks' system at the end of last season, and despite them adding more shooting in the offseason, he's the most proven 3-point shooter in this group.

He averaged 8.8 points per game while shooting over 40 percent from three in 13 games as a rookie last season, and he ended the season with 63 points over the final three games. Poulakidas is the definition of a 3-point marksman, and the end of the season proved that he can carry over the success he had during his four years at Yale to the NBA level.

His natural position is shooting guard, and with Klay Thompson gone and the Mavs' backcourt fairly thin, he has a better chance of playing than Howard and Lawal, who have to compete for playing time in a loaded frontcourt.

Howard can certainly slide down to shooting guard if needed, but Poulakidas' proven shooting success gives him a slight edge.

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