Morez Johnson Jr.’s Summer League run has hit a snag.
The Dallas Mavericks forward, taken ninth overall in the most recent NBA Draft, sat out Monday’s third Summer League game against the Memphis Grizzlies, a matchup that also gave Dallas its first win of the circuit. The team said Johnson was dealing with soreness in his left calf and was considered day-to-day.
That issue still appears to be lingering. Johnson did not take part in Wednesday’s Summer League practice, and Noah Weber reported that he had ice wrapped around his calf during the open period.
Johnson’s absence leaves his status uncertain for Wednesday afternoon’s game against the OKC Thunder, who have one of his former Michigan teammates, Aday Mara. Dallas also faces the New York Knicks again on Friday, though it seems unlikely the team would push him into a back-to-back while he’s still managing calf soreness.
The injury comes after a strong opening showing from Johnson. In his first Summer League game, he posted 27 points, eight rebounds, three assists and five stocks while shooting 12-for-17. He showed plenty of force getting to the basket, worked effectively in the midrange and protected the rim, but there was also a clear desire to see more from him as a floor spacer.
That question matters because Johnson’s fit alongside Cooper Flagg still hasn’t really been answered. He has made one three-pointer in the two games he has played, but there remains a real curiosity about how much spacing he can provide if he’s asked to spend a lot of time at power forward this season.
A frontcourt featuring Flagg, Johnson and either Dereck Lively II or Daniel Gafford would leave very little room to work offensively.
For now, Dallas will likely take the cautious route. The Summer League is not the place to force a young player through a calf issue, especially with several months still to go before preseason begins in October. That gives Johnson time to get healthy and keep building.
In the meantime, the Mavericks can still lean on Sergio De Larrea, who set a Summer League record for Dallas with 12 assists in his last outing.
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