Mavs Roster Moves: Sign A.J. Lawson to a Buyout or Convert Him From a Two-Way Contract?
One more roster space is available for the Dallas Mavericks, who may choose to sign a player that was bought out by their previous team or remain in the organization.
The Dallas Mavericks have one open roster slot with the trades of P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford. They can fill it in a number of ways for the remainder of the season, including by signing a buyout candidate or converting two-way players.
The Mavs’ three two-way players are Brandon Williams, Greg Brown III, and A.J. Lawson. Although they haven’t had much playing time in Dallas, all three players have excelled when they’ve played for the Texas Legends, the G-League affiliate. Williams is averaging 23.9 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.4 rebounds, Lawson is averaging 20 points and seven rebounds, and Brown III is averaging 18.3 points and eight rebounds.
Lawson is the one who has played the most for the Mavs throughout their injury-plagued season out of the three three-way players. Throughout his 27 appearances, Lawson has averaged 12.8 points in the four games in which he played longer than 18 minutes. The South Carolina product had his best outing in Dallas on December 23, when he defeated the San Antonio Spurs with 17 points in 30 minutes.
It seems like converting Lawson’s contract would be the course of action if Dallas chooses to stay in-house. At age 23, signing Lawson to a long-term, team-friendly contract would be a low-risk, potentially high-reward move to bring him into the starting lineup. Lawson has demonstrated talent, so there’s a chance he might eventually establish himself as a member of the Mavs.
Marcus Morris Sr., if the Mavericks decide to go with a more experienced player with postseason experience, would be a good choice. Before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs before the trade deadline, he started the season with the Los Angeles Clippers. San Antonio is anticipated to acquire Morris Sr.
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Morris Sr.’s signing would bring him and his twin brother, Markieff Morris, back to Dallas. If Morris is bought out, the Minnesota Timberwolves are anticipated to express interest in him as well. Through 37 games this season, the seasoned forward has averaged 6.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game while shooting 40% from three.
Morris can be a compelling option for Dallas given his postseason history, particularly with the Clippers. However, given their back-and-forth during the 2020 playoff series in the bubble, he and Luka Doncic could need to work things out.
