DALLAS – The Dallas Mavericks continue to work the edges of the NBA Draft better than most teams. By adding Gonzaga’s Ryan Nembhard and Auburn’s Miles Kelly on two-way contracts, the Mavericks showed how smart teams fill needs creatively. They had already drafted Cooper Flagg as the first overall pick on the first day of the draft. Obviously, the biggest win on day one. The Mavs didn’t select anyone in the second round, but that didn’t stop them from being one of the biggest winners of the second day.
Mavericks’ Draft Moves Signal They Won Both Draft Rounds
Nembhard’s Fall Turns Into Dallas’ Gain
Few draft watchers expected Nembhard’s name to stay on the board late into the night. The senior guard from Gonzaga led all Division I players with 344 assists last season. He averaged 9.8 assists with just 2.5 turnovers per game.
Yet no team used a second-round pick on him. Size concerns and questions about scoring upside hurt him. HoopsHype’s scouting report pointed to his “limited burst” and “scoring passivity.” He also struggled to create offense when longer defenders trapped him.
Kevin Boyle, Nembhard’s former coach at Montverde Academy, didn’t see this coming. Boyle told The Ryen Russillo Podcast, “We also have Ryan Nembhard… who’ll be a second-round pick, I think.”
But as picks came off the board, the call never came. By the time the dust settled, the Mavericks swooped in to sign him on a two-way deal.
Two-Way Plan Gives Nembhard a Path
Sources confirmed to ESPN that Dallas landed Kelly as a two-way addition. He’s a 6-foot-4 combo guard from Auburn. Kelly shot nearly 38 percent from deep on over six attempts per game in the SEC.
Nembhard may be undersized at 5-foot-11, but the Mavericks have a strong frontcourt that covers for that. If players like Flagg or PJ Washington slide into shooting guard roles, Nembhard’s playmaking can shine without huge defensive mismatches.
The Mavericks’ two-way approach mirrors what they did with Brandon Williams last year. Nembhard will split time with the Texas Legends in the G League. That environment could help him prove that his senior-year three-point percentage — a career-best 40.4% — wasn’t just a hot streak.
Kelly Provides Sharpshooting Depth
While Nembhard handles the ball, Kelly’s main job will be to score. At Auburn, he showed he could launch quickly and score efficiently. He averaged over 11 points per game last season.
On a two-way contract, Kelly can fight for backup minutes and space the floor when Dallas needs extra shooting. If either rookie shows out in Summer League or regular season, the Mavericks may convert one to a full roster spot by midseason.
Front Office Gets Aggressive
Dallas still holds one two-way slot open. They plan to watch Summer League play and monitor the first waves of free agency. The Mavericks have the $5.7 million Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception to add a stopgap veteran guard.
With Kyrie Irving recovering from ACL surgery, Dallas knows they need insurance at point guard. Nembhard’s arrival gives them a pure pass-first option if needed.
Their first Summer League matchup, set for July 10, the Los Angeles Lakers. That matchup could be Nembhard’s first big stage to prove front offices wrong for overlooking him.
Dallas Playing the Margins Right
Not every rookie is Flagg. Sometimes, winning the margins means landing players who fit a roster without heavy cost. Dallas did that here.
Nembhard’s college stats show he can run an offense. If Nembhard thrives in the G League and cracks the NBA rotation, the Mavericks’ two-way deals might look like a steal come April. Dallas already won the first round of the draft selecting a generational talent in Flagg and these roster moves show they understand how to win the second.
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