Summer League letdowns may brutally force the Mavericks' hand

For the Dallas Mavericks, the NBA's Summer League has officially come to an end after ending the week-and-a-half tournament with two wins and three losses after a blowout victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday. While results don't count against any team, the Mavericks saw all they needed to see when it came to Cooper Flagg and their two undrafted standout guards in Ryan Nembhard and Miles Kelly.

Not only did Flagg flash his full potential in the two games he played in, but both Kelly and Nembhard proved they could be a potential building block in Dallas' future alongside Flagg. While the spotlight was rightfully on Flagg as he dominated in the two outings he dressed up for, Mavericks fans were quietly watching the team's two Summer League centers to see if one could stand out for Dallas' last two-way spot before training camp begins in September.

Although the Mavericks still have some time to determine who they will add to their final two-way roster spot, both Jamarion Sharp and Moussa Cisse were seemingly strong candidates to join the Mavericks. Not only have both disappointed in their five Summer League games played, but it's hard to envision a future where either player could be a Maverick next season.

Mavericks could look to free agents to fill open roster spot

Heading into the Summer League, the Mavericks brought back Sharp, who has favorable defensive attributes at 7-foot-5, in the hopes that he could compete for their final two-way spot. In addition to Sharp, Dallas also added Cisse out of the University of Memphis, who wowed scouts and fans for his elite defense and ability to score with the ball in his hands near the basket.

While both players were set up for a potential breakout Summer League with Nembhard and Flagg handling the rock, neither center really flashed the potential to play at the next level. Both Cisse and Sharp struggled on the offensive end despite towering over the opposing team's defense, and even when the ball did find their hands, both struggled to flash their potential.

On the defensive end, Sharp had better production than Cisse due to his elite shot-blocking capabilities, but likely failed to prove to the Mavericks' coaching staff he had what it took to take his talents to the next level. Additionally, Cisse proved he had better hands on either end of the floor when it came to catching the ball in pick-and-roll scenarios or rebounding the ball.

While it might be hard for some fans to hear, it's unlikely either player could be competing for Dallas' final two-way roster spot, which may cause the Mavericks to shift their focus to who they invite to training camp.

By no means is the center free agent market a strong one, considering many names are already signed to other teams, but if the Mavericks are serious about signing a center to their final two-way roster spot, they may need to look at the free agency.

It's unclear if the Mavericks are dead-set on signing a center to their final two-way spot, but considering Dallas' injury history when it comes to names like Dereck Lively II and Anthony Davis, it may be in their best interest to sign a reliable young center to their final roster spot.

Fans have already called out the Mavericks for likely letting Kai Jones walk in free agency, who would be a perfect addition to this roster, but it would likely mean the Mavericks would need to trade both Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Jaden Hardy to free up an open spot on their active roster.

The Mavericks still have plenty of time to determine who is worthy of their final roster spot and the team will likely take a few candidates into training camp with the focus on finding a player to sign by the start of the season, but it's highly unlikely they will find a center outside of Sharp or Cisse who could fill the teams' needs.