The Dallas Mavericks didn’t get the preseason home opener result they wanted, falling 101-97 to the New Orleans Pelicans after a late push, but the night still gave Dusty May plenty to like.
Even with Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving out, and with several regulars limited or resting, May came away encouraged by what he saw as Dallas continues sorting things out after the China trip. The focus, in a game like this, wasn’t the final score nearly as much as the younger guys trying to show they belong.
And two rookies answered the bell.
Late first-round pick Sergio de Larrea turned in a steady all-around line with 10 points, four rebounds, six assists, one steal and two blocks. Second-rounder Tobi Lawal added 16 points and four rebounds while going 8-for-8 at the line. Rookie No. 9 overall pick Morez Johnson Jr. was unavailable because of shin splints, but de Larrea and Lawal made the most of the opportunity in front of them.
“He’s making a case to be in the rotation,” May told reporters about de Larrea after the game. “I don’t know when we’ll settle into a starting lineup or if we will.
We could see a different lineup each and every night depending on who’s healthy and the combinations that play best together. But he’s certainly earning more and more trust day by day.
"... But he’s a very, very confident player.
He makes his teammates better. We’re very, very pleased with his progression so far."
The matchup itself was built for evaluation. Dallas had a starting group of P.J.
Washington, Naji Marshall, Zaccharie Risacher, Moussa Cisse and Max Christie, but none of them were asked to carry a full load. Each logged only about 15 minutes, and five players overall, including Risacher, topped 20 minutes as May dug into the roster to see what the depth can offer.
That’s where de Larrea stood out most. Despite Dallas coughing up 25 turnovers, including five from the Spanish point guard, he was sharp early as a passer and later showed some touch from deep, knocking down 2 of 3 from 3-point range.
“The pressure, ball pressure, we are practicing to learn as fast as possible,” said de Larrea about things he's still adjusting to. “I want to try to help the team to win, to do things in the best way possible.
I’m very happy with the rotations and everything. If I play more, if I play less, my job is to help the team win.
We’re going to play fast to try to create advantages in the first seconds [of the shot clock].”
Lawal brought the kind of juice that changes the feel of a preseason game. His athletic pop showed up all night, highlighted by a two-handed dunk on a pick-and-roll in the first half that had the crowd buzzing. The Virginia Tech product, who recorded a 45-inch vertical at the NBA Draft Combine, said the adjustment to his new teammates and his role is still coming together.
“It’s definitely growing,” Tobi Lawal said, specifically about his connection with de Larrea, who assisted the slam. “They understand I’m going to cut.
So throw it up there I’m going to try to dunk it. I’m just trying to make everybody’s job easier and do the dirty work.”
Dallas closes the preseason Friday against the Atlanta Hawks before roster cuts. May said he would like to have Santi Aldama, who is dealing with a knee issue, Marcus Sasser, who has an adductor injury, Johnson and Jett Howard, who is sick, available if possible, along with a rested Flagg and Irving, so the finale can look more like a full dress rehearsal.
“I’d say possibly Friday night we might be closer to that, once the medical staff tells us who should go and who we should rest,” May said. “It’s obviously not ideal to have this many guys out. But hopefully on Friday we’ll be more in game form.”
In Other News...
Mavericks Make Another Early Camp Cut As Roster Decisions Begin
Roster trimming has started around the league, and the Mavericks have already made one of their first camp decisions by requesting waivers on Jorge Diaz Graham after his recent preseason appearance. It is the kind of early move that signals how quickly these spots can disappear once exhibition play begins, especially for players trying to turn a short look into something longer.
Around the rest of the league, similar camp churn has been underway, with the Pelicans bringing back Hunter Dickinson on a non-guaranteed training camp deal with Exhibit 10 language after waiving him from a two-way contract in August, while the Spurs signed Kendall Brown and the Kings added David Muoka on training camp contracts. For Dallas, the broader picture is clear enough: these early cuts are part of the first round of roster sorting, even if the final shape of the group is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Make A Twin-Linked Roster Move Fans Will Notice
The Mavericks made a roster move on the margins that still stands out because of the family tie involved, signing Guillermo Diaz Graham and waiving his twin brother, Jorge Diaz Graham. It was part of a broader round of camp business around the league, with Philadelphia also making two waiver moves and bringing in Cris Carroll and Taye Fields on Exhibit 10 contracts, while Miami added Ezra Ausar and let go of Ian Schieffelin.
For Dallas, the Diaz Graham name is the eye-catcher, even if the transaction itself fits the usual late-summer churn of roster trimming and G League planning. With camps and affiliate assignments taking shape, the Mavericks now have one half of the twin connection in their system, while the other moves elsewhere in the NBA underline how quickly these back-end roster spots can shift. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Suddenly Have A Frontcourt Decision Other Teams Are Watching
The Mavericks frontcourt depth is suddenly drawing outside attention, and it comes from a team with a clear need of its own. The Lakers are believed to be keeping an eye on Dallas bench situation as they look for ways to improve their backup center spot, a reminder that even a roster with plenty of talent can still have obvious gaps.
Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II have both been mentioned as possible trade targets, which says plenty about how other teams view Dallas size and mobility in the middle. Nothing has been done yet, and Los Angeles is still in the monitoring stage before making any roster changes, but the fact that the Mavericks are already on another contenders radar adds another layer to a frontcourt situation worth watching. [Read more 🡒]