Sergio De Larrea is making a loud early push to settle the Mavericks’ backup point guard discussion before it even really starts.
It’s still preseason, and plenty can shift between now and opening night, but the 20-year-old Spanish guard has done exactly what Dallas needed from a young ballhandler trying to carve out a role. He’s one of only three true point guards on the roster alongside Marcus Sasser and Kyrie Irving, and Sasser sat out both of the Mavericks’ first two preseason games with left adductor soreness.
De Larrea, meanwhile, took advantage of the opportunity in Macao, China against the Houston Rockets. In two games there, he logged nearly 25 minutes in each and finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.
He shot 7-for-13 from the field and 4-for-6 from beyond the arc, and his size for the position stood out right away. So did the way he saw the floor in the half-court, which gave Dallas a real boost.
What’s encouraging for the Mavericks is that this hasn’t come out of nowhere. Since being traded to Dallas on draft night, De Larrea has been popping in ways that are hard to ignore. He had a solid Summer League, and he’s knocking down threes at a better clip than many around the league expected this early in his career.
The defensive flashes have been there too. De Larrea picked up three steals across the two games in Macao, using his size at the point of attack and active hands to make life difficult.
He’s not the kind of explosive athlete who changes a game on that end by himself, but he’s not getting bullied either. The bigger concern is turnovers, and that’s going to matter as the competition gets sharper.
Still, his passing is already one of the more intriguing parts of his game.
Sasser isn’t out of the picture by any means. He’s viewed as the better shooter off the bounce, and once he’s healthy, he’ll have a real chance to press for minutes. The 25-year-old Dallas native has every reason to want a spot in his hometown team’s rotation.
But for now, De Larrea has the edge. He’s been the one on the floor, and he’s been the one making the stronger impression.
Dallas may end up handling the backup point guard spot on a game-by-game basis, and Dusty May likely won’t treat it as a fixed job. Even so, De Larrea has clearly moved ahead in the early race.
That matters for a Mavericks team that doesn’t have much proven playmaking or shot creation behind Irving. On paper, that second unit needs help, and De Larrea’s blend of passing, defense and rebounding offers something the rest of the guard group doesn’t really duplicate. If he keeps this up and carries the preseason shooting into games that count, Dallas could have a much livelier offense when Irving sits.
That kind of development could swing a lot for a team that does not have first-round picks over the next couple of years. For now, De Larrea has the inside track. And with Sasser still waiting to make his preseason debut, Mavericks fans have already gotten a clear look at one guard who’s making his case fast.
In Other News...
Mavericks Just Got A Tougher Shooting Decision Than Fans Expected
John Poulakidas missing the Mavericks second preseason game naturally stirred some questions about where he stands in Dallas plans, especially with roster decisions still taking shape. The team has been looking for ways to sharpen its three-point shooting, and that has put a spotlight on players who can help stretch the floor without needing a heavy offensive load.
Poulakidas offered a reminder of why he remains part of that conversation in the latest look against the New Orleans Pelicans, when he scored 16 points and knocked down four three-pointers. For a roster still weighing moves involving him and others, that kind of bench shooting is exactly the sort of skill set that can make a decision more complicated than it first appeared. [Read more 🡒]
Dusty May Just Spotlighted Why Risacher Could Matter For Dallas
The Mavericks 101-97 preseason loss to the Pelicans didnt change much in the standings, but it did offer another look at why Zaccharie Risacher keeps drawing attention. Dallas fell to 1-2, and even in a game where his shot wasnt falling cleanly, Risacher still found ways to impact the action with his activity around the glass, his work in transition and the movement that kept him involved without needing the ball in his hands.
Dusty May made sure to point out those details after the game, and they matter for Dallas because they speak to a player who can help in more than one phase. Risacher finished with six points, four rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block in 23 minutes, a stat line that showed both his versatility and the rough edges that come with preseason evaluation. The shooting efficiency was uneven, but the larger takeaway for the Mavericks is that there is already evidence of the kind of connective play that can make him useful once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Could Face A Roster Squeeze Lakers Fans Should Watch
The Lakers search for more help behind their front line has pulled the Mavericks into the conversation, with one trade framework sending center Moussa Cisse to Los Angeles and bringing guard Jaden Hardy back to Dallas. It is the kind of swap that speaks to both teams needs: the Lakers would be looking to shore up backup big man depth, while Dallas would be betting on a young scorer who could add some punch off the bench.
For the Mavericks, the wrinkle is less about the name value of the deal than the roster math it could trigger. Dwight Powells return would require room, which means Dallas may have to make a decision somewhere else on the bench, and that is where the squeeze starts to matter. Hardys fit is easy enough to imagine in a second unit that could use more scoring, but the question is whether the Mavericks are ready to reshuffle bodies to make the move work. [Read more 🡒]