The Mavericks are back in action tonight for their third game of the 2026 NBA Summer League, and the matchup brings a tough test: Memphis, plus third overall pick Cameron Boozer.
Dallas has stumbled out of the gate. The Mavs dropped their first two games by double digits, falling to the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. The loss to Los Angeles was especially rough, with Dallas managing only 26 points in the second half.
Summer League is supposed to be about growth, but so far the spotlight has fallen on Ryan Nembhard for the wrong reasons. He’s finished tied for the lowest plus/minus in each of the last two games.
At this point, it would be more productive to let Sergio De Larrea run the offense and work through the learning curve that comes with it. The 25th overall pick has had a hard time putting the ball in the basket, but he also hasn’t gotten many chances in off-ball situations.
When he’s been driving and passing, he has looked good.
Nembhard, by contrast, is giving the Mavs very little to build on. We know what Nembhard is, and that's a below-average NBA player, so watching him isolate and turn the ball over isn't helping the young guys at all.
There’s also a case for getting Morez Johnson Jr. more perimeter reps. He has the kind of versatility to handle either frontcourt spot, but he’s mostly been used at center so far. The flashes have been there when he’s put the ball on the floor and attacked, and it would be useful to see how he fits alongside someone like Cooper Flagg.
Johnson’s defense will be under the microscope against Boozer, who arrives after a strong outing of his own. Boozer had 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists on 7/12 shooting.
The Duke star won national player of the year last season, though there were plenty of questions about how his game would carry over to the NBA. This matchup should offer a real measuring stick.
Memphis also has 2025 lottery pick Cedric Coward, former Maverick Olivier-Maxence Prosper, and 2023 lottery pick Taylor Hendricks, who came over in the trade for Jaren Jackson Jr. Hendricks previously suffered a brutal injury against the Mavericks a few years ago, an event that significantly affected his development.
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Mavericks Finally Got A Summer League Win But Fans Noticed This Too
The Mavericks finally broke through in Summer League, topping the Memphis Grizzlies 96-88 for their first win of the showcase. It was a useful night for a roster still sorting itself out, with Sergio De Larrea handling a bigger share of the offense and the second unit supplying plenty of help along the way.
De Larrea finished with 16 points and 12 assists, a line that stood out even more because Dallas was missing Morez Johnson Jr. and Ryan Nembhard. The bench did its part too, as Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, Darin Green Jr. and Jaden Springer all reached double figures, giving the Mavericks a deeper look at who can carry real weight when the rotation thins out. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks May Have Quietly Found Another Hidden Gem On Draft Night
The Mavericks have spent the summer looking for value wherever they can find it, and one of the quieter draft-night moves may already be paying off. Dallas picked up draft rights to a late second-round selection from the Lakers for cash considerations, a low-cost swing that has started to look smarter by the day as the newcomer has flashed physicality, defense and enough versatility to stand out in Summer League.
He has also drawn positive remarks from the Mavericks Summer League staff after holding his own against tougher competition, the kind of early impression that can matter for a player trying to carve out a path. Dallas does not have an open roster spot right now, but the expectation is that he will get a training camp invite and a chance to keep forcing the issue for a place in the organization. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks May Finally Have A Klay Thompson Decision To Make
Klay Thompson may have become a name to watch again in Dallas, where the Mavericks still have him on an expiring deal worth about $17.5 million next season. Miami is reportedly interested in bringing in the veteran shooter regardless of what LeBron James decides, and that kind of interest matters because Dallas would rather work out a trade than simply move on via buyout.
For the Mavericks, the appeal is obvious: Thompson still carries enough reputation as a high-end floor spacer to draw real attention, even if his contract makes any deal tricky. For Miami, the pursuit sits alongside a broader search for scoring options, with the Heat also keeping tabs on other veteran names as they sort through a crowded offseason board. [Read more 🡒]