The Mavericks have one open roster spot, and Jordan Hawkins suddenly looks like the kind of swing worth taking.
Dallas is in Macau, China, getting set for two preseason games against the Houston Rockets this weekend, but the front office still has business to do. The team has only 20 players on its training-camp roster, leaving room for another addition. After the Memphis Grizzlies cut Hawkins over the weekend, the former lottery pick is a logical name for the Mavericks to weigh.
Hawkins entered the league as the No. 14 pick in 2023 by the New Orleans Pelicans, but his production has not matched the draft slot yet. Last season, the former UConn standout put up a career-low 5.1 points per game for a Pelicans team that struggled, while logging just 13.6 minutes a night. His role had already taken a hit after he averaged 10.8 points per game in his second season, and that drop in usage is part of what makes a new opportunity appealing.
For Dallas, the fit starts with shooting. The 6-foot-5 guard is at his best when the ball is flying around the perimeter, whether he’s catching and firing, stepping into open looks, or coming off a screen. His release is smooth, and his form holds up even on the move.
That matters for a Mavericks team that needed a lot more from deep last season. Dallas shot 34.4 percent from three on 31.9 attempts per game, both numbers landing in the bottom five of the NBA.
Hawkins would give them another perimeter weapon, especially as a bench option who can heat up quickly. He’s willing to launch from the catch or off the dribble, and he has already shown he can string together big nights, with 15 career games of 20 or more points.
The upside is still there, and so is the appeal of a low-cost gamble. Dallas does not have many true shooting guards, which makes Hawkins an even cleaner training-camp invite. If he flashes in preseason, he could force his way into the conversation.
A full 15-man roster spot still feels like a long shot, especially with the Mavericks’ depth. But a two-way opportunity is very much in play. Seth Lundy is already on a training-camp contract and can compete for a two-way spot with a strong showing, and Hawkins would only raise the pressure in that battle.
Dallas already has three players on two-way deals: John Poulakidas, Jett Howard, and Tobi Lawal. Lawal appears safe after the team used a second-round pick on him, but Hawkins would still add another layer to the competition with Poulakidas and Howard. All three are known for their shooting, and Dusty May could use camp to sort out which ones fit the organization’s future-facing vision best.
That approach has already shown up in Dallas’ moves this summer. The new front office led by Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz has leaned into buying low on former lottery picks who might benefit from a change of scenery. The Mavericks traded Ryan Nembhard and a second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for the 2024 No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher, and they also signed Jett Howard, the 11th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, to a two-way deal.
Those were value plays, and both came at a bargain. Adding Hawkins on a training-camp deal would fit the same pattern.
In Other News...
Mavericks Need More From Naji Marshall In One Crucial Area
Naji Marshall came to Dallas with a reputation as a useful two-way wing, someone who could give the Mavericks sturdy perimeter defense and enough offensive pop to keep the floor spaced. Since arriving, though, the shooting has not traveled with him in the same way it did in New Orleans, and the team is still waiting for that part of his game to settle in alongside the rest of his role.
Marshall has still shown value as a defender, including at least one steal per game in each of the last two seasons, but Dallas wants more consistency on both ends as it heads into the new year. With Kyrie Irving set to return to the lineup, the Mavericks need Marshall to be cleaner and more reliable as a spacer and to bring the kind of effort that helps hold up the wing rotation over the course of a long season. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Opening Night Lineup Suddenly Feels Much More Settled
Dereck Lively II has not yet returned to practice, and his chances of being ready for the Mavericks season opener look slim enough to narrow one of the teams biggest early questions. With the calendar moving toward opening night, Dallas is beginning to get a clearer picture of how its frontcourt will line up, and that matters for a roster still sorting out roles around the paint.
Dusty May is expected to go with Daniel Gafford at center to begin the season, a familiar move for a player who has already started games for Dallas before. The more interesting wrinkle is what comes next: Gafford is slated to take on a bigger offensive role, and that could mean a different look for the Mavericks spacing if his game stretches beyond the usual rim-running duties. [Read more 🡒]
Dereck Lively II Just Became A Bigger Long-Term Mavs Question
Dereck Lively II has become one of the more interesting long-term decisions on the Mavericks docket, with the team facing an October 19 deadline to work out a rookie-scale extension. For now, the expectation is that Dallas will keep its powder dry and take a longer look, especially with Lively still working back from foot surgery and not yet ready to return to practice.
That creates an awkward but understandable pause for a player the Mavericks still view as part of their future, but one whose health and role need more clarity before any multiyear commitment. Recent reporting has also pointed to other players from the 2023 draft class being more likely to land extensions first, which only sharpens the question hanging over Lively as Dallas weighs recovery, fit and timing. [Read more 🡒]