The Mavericks were able to end the Vegas Summer League on a high note defeating the Sacramento Kings 85-54. Just like the other recaps, we will look at the players of interest and we will also look ahead and what is next on the horizon for these players.
Roddy Beaubois
25 minutes played, 15 points (6-9 FG, 3-3 3PT, 0-0FT), 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 2turnovers, 0 steals, 0 blocks
It's all about poise and control with Roddy. He was excellent in games where he played within the flow of the game and he wasn't atrocious when he tried to force the issue. Beaubois was able to show some solid court vision and passing accuracy during the game. The consistent problem Roddy has had during the summer league is that he uses his body too much on defense, it's a bad habit that he needs to break. He is gifted with his speed, athleticism and length but he's using the body too much on defense and the refs will call the foul every time. It was good to see flashes of his jumper come back around. He was shooting so efficiently during the season last year that it's possible he just picked a terrible time have a shooting slump.
What's Next for Beaubois?
"Roddy Buckets" is ready for the summer league to end. The Roddy-Point Guard experiment has been very disappointing in the eyes of many Maverick fans. He will continue to get additional work running the point with the French National Team in preparation for the World Championships in Turkey later this summer. The time-line for Roddy might be longer than most had hoped for but he's still shown he is a capable scorer. He appears primed to be in the running for the starting shooting guard position for Dallas this coming season. His minutes were very sporadic in his rookie year, it appears that will not be an issue going forward.
Dominique Jones
24 minutes played, 17 points (6-11 FG, 0-3 3PT, 5-6 FT), 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 0 turnovers, 1steal, 0 blocks
One part of the attacking game I've been impressed with when it comes to Jones is his ability to go left. That versatility is really going to pay off when defenders feel they've done something by forcing him to go left. There are just moments where Jones is a scoring machine and he can take over the game. The assist to turnover ratio is as perfect as you would want to see, Jones played in complete control tonight. It's going to be interesting to see how his athleticism translates going up against the NBA-elite.
What's Next for Jones?
He's officially signed his rookie deal and will be on the Mavericks roster headed into training camp. The question then becomes, what role will Dojo fill on the roster? His ability to attack and finish in traffic is an ability the Mavericks sorely need. The versatility Jones has shown does create more opportunities for him as well. Dominique showed solid point guard skills during the summer league and might be able to earn some additional point guard minutes along the way. He's shown a great attitude during the summer league and looks eager to improve his game.
Ian Mahinmi
22 minutes played, 5 points (1-5 FG, 0-0 3PT, 3-9 FT), 0 assists, 8 rebounds, 1 turnover, 0 steals, 2 blocks
He only played in two games but this game was clearly the most impressive for Mahinmi. He was in the mix of any open rebound opportunity. He showed excellent timing with going up for put-back opportunities and flashing help defense at the last minute for some timely blocks. He also showed nice body control not leading with the body for those blocks, he just went straight up like you need to do. Ian continued to get to the foul line by getting in the mid-post and putting the ball on the floor. His main defensive assignment was DeMarcus Cousins and he did a pretty solid job on him. Mahinmi showed excellent discipline not biting on pump fakes Cousins threw at him on the low block.
What's Next for Mahinmi?
Mahinmi would be a prime player to get some quality time in the D-League but that will not be possible. League rules mandate that only first and second year players are eligible to be sent to the D-League. Ian will likely serve as the third center in the rotation for the Mavericks. His athleticism could garner him some minutes as a backup at the power forward position as well. Ian is a project in the form of former Maverick DJ Mbenga, but there is more upside to go along with Mahinmi.
Jeremy Lin
19 minutes played,12 points (4-6 FG, 0-0 3PT, 4-6 FT), 1 assist, 5 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 1 steal, 0 blocks
Lin shared point guard and shooting guard responsibilities over the course of the game and he was impressive again. His ability to pull rebounds down in traffic can remind you of Jason Kidd and it really triggers the offense. The jumper is something that Jeremy will need to continue developing, but he's fearless when it comes to attacking the basket. He's definitely made a name for himself over the course of the summer league.
What's Next for Lin?
Lin emerged as a big surprise during the summer league. His tenacious defense and exciting offense wooed the crowds in Vegas and teams took notice or will take notice when they check the film. Teams like the Lakers and Heat could easily show interest in the guard but look for Dallas to remain a viable candidate to sign Lin. Jeremy has commented that Donnie Nelson gave Lin the opportunity to come on board and give him a chance to show what he has. If Lin is on the Mavericks, he would assume the starting point guard position for the Mavs D-League affiliate, The Texas Legends. With the team being based in Frisco, if something unforeseen happens, then Lin would be able to make the quick trip to join the roster that day.
Omar Samhan
19 minutes played, 8 points (4-8 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT), 1assist, 5 rebounds, 1turnover, 0 steals, 1 block
Omar continued to show the confidence in his jumper. He still had issues rebounding in traffic and with the speed factor when the tempo went up. He didn't get a heavy workload tonight, which will be discussed momentarily. Samhan showed potential over the course of the summer league, he just needs to work on a his conditioning and working with his footwork.
What's Next for Samhan?
ESPN Dallas is reporting that the big man will be heading aboard and has a two year deal in place with a club in Lithuania. The club didn't want Samhan to play in the last game but he felt he made a commitment to the Mavericks for all four games so he wanted to see that through. Coming into the summer league, Samhan's prospects were relatively promising in terms of possibly getting an invite for Mavericks Training Camp. The additions of Mahinmi and Alexis Ajinca definitely pushed him farther behind on the depth chart. Playing in Europe will be a solid experience for Omar and a solid way to make some money playing overseas.