The Mavericks came out of their Summer League opener with more than one reason for fans to lean in, and the name that probably deserves the loudest buzz isn’t the one most people had circled before tipoff.
Morez Johnson Jr. grabbed plenty of attention in Dallas’ game against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night, but the second-round pick who really turned heads was Vsevolod Ishchenko, the No. 56 selection. In a draft that also included Tobi Lawal at No. 48, Ishchenko looked like the player who most clearly belonged.
Lawal, the athletic Virginia Tech forward who has already signed a two-way contract, had his moments, including a big put-back dunk in the second half. But Ishchenko was the one who delivered the more complete showing. His final line was modest - seven points, three rebounds and one assist - yet the box score didn’t come close to telling the whole story.
The 6-foot-8 guard from Russia played with poise, attacked with the ball in his hands and held up defensively. Even though Lawal got the start, Ishchenko wound up logging more than twice as many minutes, a pretty clear sign the coaching staff trusted him, especially once Dallas was trying to climb back into the game.
That matters for a player taken this late. Masai Ujiri has built a reputation for spotting value where others miss it, and Mavericks fans know the names Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby well enough to understand the kind of hit rate that makes a front office look smart for years.
Ishchenko doesn’t need to become that level of player to justify the pick. If he turns into a rotation piece, that’s a win.
And there’s real substance behind the intrigue. The 21-year-old came over from the VTB United League in Russia, where he averaged 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
He also shot over 50 percent from the field and over 46 percent from three, which is the kind of efficiency that gets attention fast. Add in his size, and the appeal becomes obvious.
It’s still early, and this was only one Summer League game. Ishchenko is a project, and he hasn’t even signed a contract yet. But he put himself on the radar in a meaningful way Thursday night, and that’s no small thing for a player taken at the back end of the draft.
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