The Dallas Mavericks made waves at the trade deadline with a flurry of moves that signaled a clear shift in direction-and a bold one at that. It started with the blockbuster deal that sent Anthony Davis and three other players to Washington in exchange for Khris Middleton, Marvin Bagley III, Malaki Branham, AJ Johnson, and a haul of five draft picks.
But the front office didn’t stop there. On deadline day, Dallas flipped Branham to the Charlotte Hornets in return for veteran point guard Tyus Jones.
At first glance, that move looked like a savvy play-addressing a thin point guard rotation with a proven floor general. But dig a little deeper, and the long-term implications raise some questions.
Jones is in the midst of what's arguably the toughest season of his career. Once considered one of the league’s most reliable backup point guards, his production has dipped noticeably. And while his leadership and experience are still assets, the Mavericks now face a critical decision: how to balance his presence with the development of rookie guard Ryan Nembhard.
Nembhard, currently on a two-way contract, has shown flashes of real promise this season. He’s younger, quicker, and fits the Mavericks’ new timeline-especially with the franchise now fully committed to building around Cooper Flagg following the Davis trade. At just 23 years old, Nembhard is seven years younger than Jones and offers a skill set that could evolve into a long-term solution at the position.
The reality is, Dallas doesn’t have the roster space-or the minutes-to keep both players in prominent roles. With Jones set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer, the Mavericks have to look at the bigger picture. Giving a new deal to both guards doesn’t make much sense, particularly when Nembhard has outperformed expectations and continues to grow with every opportunity he gets.
This final stretch of the season-28 games to go-isn’t just about playoff positioning. It’s about development.
It’s about figuring out who fits next to Flagg, who can be part of the next great Mavericks core, and who might be better suited elsewhere. And when it comes to Nembhard, the only way to get those answers is by giving him the minutes.
He’s already been active for 44 games, nearing the limit for two-way eligibility. Jason Kidd and the Mavericks’ front office have a decision to make-and soon. Converting Nembhard’s deal to a standard NBA contract would not only preserve his availability down the stretch but also send a clear message: this team is prioritizing youth, development, and long-term fit.
Jones still has value-especially as a veteran voice in the locker room-but that role should be secondary to the growth of players like Nembhard and Brandon Williams, both of whom will also be free agents this summer. If Jones starts taking minutes away from those two, the Mavericks risk stalling the development of the very players they need to evaluate most.
Bottom line: the Mavericks made their intentions clear at the deadline-they’re building something new. And in that vision, Nembhard fits.
Jones, for all his experience, likely doesn’t. This is a team looking forward, not backward.
And that means giving the keys-at least part-time-to the next generation.