Thursday opens the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, and for the Dallas Mavericks it’s the first real look at a group that could shape the next phase of the roster. The matchup with the Golden State Warriors at 6 p.m. CST brings the usual Summer League mix of opportunity and uncertainty, but Dallas has a handful of specific storylines worth tracking right away.
The biggest one may be Ryan Nembhard. The Mavericks have not added much to the point guard room for this season, with Kyrie Irving returning from injury, Sergio De Larrea able to handle either backcourt spot, and Marcus Sasser essentially getting one year to prove himself.
That setup leaves room for Nembhard, the undrafted guard from last year who had some loud moments, including an absurd 23 assists in the final game of the season. If he’s going to stick in the rotation, the scoring has to come with more consistency.
He averaged 6.6 PPG last season, shot 41.5% from the floor and 35.6% from three, and the inconsistency is exactly what he’ll need to clean up this summer.
Then there’s Morez Johnson Jr., the No. 9 overall pick out of Michigan. Dallas sees an elite defender with a high motor, but the fit next to Cooper Flagg still raises questions because of Johnson’s limited three-point shooting in college.
He did shoot well at the NBA combine, but now the challenge is proving that it translates in actual game action. Summer League gives him that stage.
Sergio De Larrea is another name to watch closely. Taken 25th overall, the 6'7" guard has the size to play either backcourt spot and the playmaking tools to become a point guard down the line.
The issue has been turnovers, and there are still questions about whether his athleticism will hold up if that’s the path he’s meant to take. The Mavericks will want to see him make the right reads with more consistency, because the jump from Europe to the NBA is a different animal even in Summer League.
Dallas also used the 56th overall pick on Vsevolod Ishchenko, a sharpshooter from Russia. He wasn’t especially productive and the level of competition he faced wasn’t the strongest, but Mike Schmitz appeared to be a fan.
The Mavericks haven’t signed Ishchenko to a contract yet, which says plenty about where they are with him: interested, but still evaluating what he might become. If he’s not ready now, there’s time for him to develop overseas, but this week is a useful measuring stick.
And finally, John Poulakidas enters Summer League with a clear calling card. Dallas needs three-point shooting, and Poulakidas can bring it.
After signing a two-way contract with the Mavericks, he hit 31 threes in 13 games. He’s still on that two-way deal, but a strong showing could push him toward a real roster spot if the Mavericks move on from Klay Thompson.
At the very least, he’s trying to lock down his place for next season.
In Other News...
Warriors Beat Mavericks As One Rookie Suddenly Has Fans Talking
The Mavericks ran into a lively Summer League test Friday as Golden State pulled away for a 101-90 win, and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg was one of the main reasons the Warriors kept control. Lendeborg filled the box score with 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, giving Golden State a versatile presence that made the game feel more like a showcase for his all-around game than a simple July exhibition.
For Dallas, the result was another reminder that Summer League nights can turn quickly when a young player starts dictating the action on both ends. Lendeborg talked afterward about where he wants to keep improving, and the Warriors still have three games left in Las Vegas, starting with Oklahoma City next, which means there should be more chances for him to keep drawing attention. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Frontcourt Squeeze Could Force A Painful Move Before Camp
The Mavericks frontcourt logjam got even tighter after the addition of Santi Aldama, a move that adds another versatile big to a group already packed with forwards and centers. Dallas also used the draft to bring in Morez Johnson Jr., and the rookies strong Summer League showing only sharpened the sense that there are more bodies than clear minutes when camp opens.
With so many players chasing the same rotation spots, the next decision may come down to subtraction rather than addition. The front office has room to keep sorting through the mix before training camp, and the pressure is now on to decide which pieces fit the long-term picture and which veterans might have to be moved to make the roster workable. [Read more 🡒]
Kyrie Irving Just Gave Mavericks Fans A Reason To Hope
Kyrie Irvings offseason work has given the Mavericks something they badly needed after a year spent without him: a reminder of how much offensive lift he can still provide when he is healthy and engaged. Dallas is entering a new era with a revamped front office and a new head coach in Dusty May, and Irvings presence remains one of the clearest variables in how the teams attack could look once the season gets moving.
Mays reaction to a recent workout was especially encouraging, and it fits the broader sense around the Mavericks that Irving is moving in the right direction after missing the entire 2025-26 season. Even so, optimism only goes so far in the West, where the path back to relevance is crowded and the bigger question is not just whether Irving can help, but whether Dallas can turn that help into something more meaningful. [Read more 🡒]