The Mavericks spent their draft capital this summer on a clear backcourt fix, moving from No. 30 to No. 25 to grab Spain’s Sergio De Larrea, and early signs suggest they may get help from him sooner than expected.
At 6-foot-6, he fits the modern mold teams want at point guard. The shot was supposed to be the part that carried over first, but what has jumped out most has been his passing and feel. That showed up in a major way at Summer League, where De Larrea set a franchise record for assists in a game with 12 in his third outing, then topped that the very next game with 14.
That playmaking has carried into the preseason. In his first game, he was a little loose with the ball, finishing with four turnovers, but he still produced 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, knocked down all three of his threes, and added six assists.
He kept rolling in the second preseason game in China, posting 9 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 turnovers. The stat that really leapt off the page was his plus-minus: plus-34 in a 17-point win. Nobody else on the roster finished better than plus-14.
There was another encouraging sign in that game too. De Larrea looked comfortable alongside Kyrie Irving, who made his first preseason appearance Sunday and was seeing game action for the first time since tearing his ACL in March 2025. Irving has long been at his best with another lead ball-handler sharing the load, and De Larrea’s ability to fill that role right away could give Dallas another needed layer on offense.
When the Mavericks drafted him, the expectation was that he might need time to adjust to the league’s pace and physicality. Instead, the spacing around him has helped his instincts and passing show up immediately. That’s the kind of skill set that can earn a rookie minutes fast.
Dallas needs help at point guard, and De Larrea may already be the team’s best pure passer.
Teams are going to come after him early. Rookie point guards always get tested, and the real question is whether he can keep the turnovers manageable while still creating 4 or 5 assists a night. If he does, he can lift the offense in a hurry.
The longer view matters too. Like plenty of young playmakers, he could run into a wall around midseason once opponents build a bigger scouting file on him. An 82-game grind is no joke, and rookies rarely keep that same level of energy and sharpness all year.
Still, De Larrea has a case to be the Mavericks’ biggest X-Factor this season.
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Mavericks Keep Giving One Young Big Man Another Look
The Mavericks have spent the early part of camp cycling through the back end of their preseason roster, and the 21st spot has become a revolving door for a string of young players. Dallas has signed and waived Matt Cross, Darin Green Jr. and Chris Mantis along the way, a pretty clear sign the team is keeping its options open while sorting through developmental depth.
Jorge Diaz Graham is the latest big man to get another look, and there is at least some indication the Mavericks want to keep him around for a while. The broader picture is familiar for this time of year: Dallas is auditioning prospects, while other teams are making similar housekeeping moves, including the Clippers bringing back Fletcher Loyer on an Exhibit 10 deal and the Jazz opening a spot after waiving Mohamed Wague. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Gave This Stretch Big A Real Chance To Earn More
The Mavericks gave Jorge Diaz Graham a real look this preseason, signing the stretch big and assigning him jersey No. 23 after he spent summer with the team. He had already shown enough in Las Vegas to keep himself in the conversation, flashing shooting touch and the kind of forward-center versatility that can make a young big useful in a modern rotation.
Now the challenge gets sharper with only the final two preseason games left to make another impression. Diaz Graham is still competing against the rest of the camp bodies for limited opportunities, but there is at least a path to a two-way contract if he can keep standing out in the minutes he gets. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Just Made Their Two-Way Wing Battle Even Tougher
The Mavericks added another name to the mix on the wing, signing 6-foot-7 forward Matt Cross and bringing their preseason roster to 21 players. Cross is expected to be around for the teams final two preseason games, giving Dallas one more look at a player whose appeal comes from activity, rebounding, energy and a workable shot.
For a roster still sorting out its depth, Cross only adds to the pressure on the clubs two-way wing competition. His spot in the regular-season picture is far from settled, but the signing does increase the number of options Dallas has on the perimeter as the preseason winds down and decisions get closer. [Read more 🡒]