Ryan Nembhard's release makes Mavericks' decision to move on easier to understand

Over two months ago, the Dallas Mavericks made the shrewd move to acquire former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher in exchange for Ryan Nembhard and a second-round draft pick, which was routed to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the three-team deal. However, despite Nembhard's importance to the downtrodden Mavericks a year ago, it's now looking like Dallas was right to move on from the point guard after what has happened since.

Why the Mavericks moved on from Ryan Nembhard

After just two months in Atlanta, the Hawks decided to move on from Nembhard, sending the 5-foot-11 guard, along with Buddy Hield, to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith. Yet Nembhard isn't slated to stick around Charlotte either, as the squad will reportedly release him.

Consequently, as disappointing as it was to see Dallas move on from the former undrafted gem, it's all beginning to make sense.

Of course, just about everyone knows how difficult it is for a sub-6-foot player to make the NBA, let alone start a handful of games, but it was still a gut punch that the Mavericks moved on from Nembhard after a stellar rookie season. He certainly seemed poised for even a multi-season reserve role with the team.

However, after seeing Nembhard moved for pennies on the dollar and ultimately released, it's a reminder that there may not be much of a need for his archetype in today's NBA.

The NBA has less room for small guards

The NBA is skewing taller. The league's average height has increased in each of the last four seasons. And while teams aren't necessarily trotting out bigger lineups as they did in the 1990s or early 2000s, teams are prioritizing playmakers who boast more size than ever before.

Just as the Mavericks did with Cooper Flagg a season ago, utilizing the 6-foot-9 wing as their jumbo-sized floor general, various teams around the NBA have already adopted the same approach. Even the Hawks, Nembhard's former team, use forward Jalen Johnson and wings Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels as their primary playmakers, rendering Nembhard's archetype less necessary despite an apparent need at point guard.

And, as a result of the league skewing bigger, it's forcing opposing teams to match up accordingly. Thus, the Mavericks, or whoever employs Nembhard, will always have to find a matchup for the 5-foot-11 guard, and it surely can't be the opposing playmaker if it is, for example, Flagg or Johnson.

As much as it made sense to trade Nembhard to acquire Risacher, it was still a tough pill to swallow, considering the Mavericks' lack of guard depth. Yet, after Nembhard's surprisingly winding path since departing Dallas, it's easier to understand why the team that signed him to a two-way deal and later promoted him to a standard contract no longer felt the need to keep him around.

For as much as Nembhard helped Dallas a season ago, it's an unforgiving league, and there's not much room for diminutive floor generals like there once was.

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