Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. celebrates during the first half of the NCAA college basketball tournament national championship game against UConn at the Final Four, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michael Conroy/AP
The Dallas Mavericks will send their promising group of new draftees and talented prospects to the desert for the annual Las Vegas Summer League showcase.
The Mavericks will begin their summer league slate against the Golden State Warriors at 7 p.m. CT in what will be Morez Johnson Jr.‘s unofficial NBA debut. Dallas will also face the Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies and a fifth opponent that is to be determined by its place in the summer league standings.
Here are five things to watch as the Mavericks embark on their latest summer league journey:
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Johnson Jr.’s debut
The Mavericks’ summer roster is highlighted by Johnson, who was selected with the No. 9 overall pick in last month’s NBA draft.
Johnson, a 6-9 forward/center, will have his first chance to demonstrate his defensive versatility against members of his draft class, including his former Michigan teammates. On Thursday, Johnson will face the Warriors and rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg. The Mavericks will also play the Oklahoma City Thunder on July 16, offering the chance to match up against Aday Mara, but neither could be available because first-round picks are usually shut down by the end of the tournament.
Cooper Flagg played two games in Las Vegas last summer before he was sidelined, and Ryan Nembhard played three. Regardless of how much Johnson plays, there will be ample opportunity to show how disruptive he can be on the defensive end, while displaying his ability to be effective on offense without the ball.
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International presence
The Mavericks’ summer squad is full of players who have international roots, highlighted by Sergio De Larrea, the Spanish point guard selected with the 25th overall pick.
Mavericks fans should look forward to watching the first glimpse of De Larrea, who has drawn comparisons to Ricky Rubio and Josh Giddey because of his ability to dribble, shoot and pass. Summer league coach Joe Boylan said Tuesday that De Larrea’s energy has stood out the most, aside from his balanced offensive skillset.
“Really high IQ player,” Boylan said. “Can handle it. Can pass. He’s probably thrown five alley-oops in practice so far. He’s got great chemistry with the guys. Can make a shot. Defend. Just a really well-rounded player. Super mature. He’s been a joy to be around.”
Vsevolod Ishchenko, a 6-8 guard from Russia, is also someone to keep an eye out for. The Mavericks acquired the draft rights to the 56th overall pick from the Los Angeles Lakers. Boylan will prioritize Ishchenko’s ability to shoot 3s as he connected on 46.3% of his triples in 43 games for Russia’s Lokomotiv Kuban.
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Dallas also has Nigerian center Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu on its roster, along with twin brothers Guillermo Diaz Graham and Jorge Diaz Graham, both of whom hail from Spain. Boylan addressed the international presence Tuesday, saying it helps to have multiple players with different styles of play.
“The European style is also a little bit more inclined to how we actually want to play, too,” Boyland said. “There is a level of unselfishness, of defense first, of work culture. I think those guys fit in really well.”
Will Nembhard play?
Speaking of international play, Ryan Nembhard just finished playing with the Canadian men’s national team in FIBA Americas World Cup qualifiers. The undrafted sophomore earned a standard contract with Dallas last season after beginning the year on a two-way contract. The Mavericks exercised his team option for 2026-27 and he will compete for backup point guard minutes behind Kyrie Irving.
Nembhard is expected to meet the Mavericks in Las Vegas in time for Thursday’s game against the Warriors, which is set for 6 p.m. He will use his elite playmaking ability to facilitate for his teammates, but he could show signs of improvement on defense and more efficiency from the field.
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What about the two-ways?
John Poulakidas has spent most of his offseason in Dallas preparing for his sophomore season. He is one of three players signed to two-way contracts, along with Tyler Smith and 48th overall pick Tobi Lawal.
Poulakidas is known for his sharpshooting ability, but he said Tuesday he’s worked on building muscle. The 6-6 guard is listed at 208 pounds, which is three more than last season. He’s planning to continue his strength training through the summer with the hope that it helps other areas of his game.
Smith is also on the roster. The 6-10 forward played 12 games with the Mavericks last season and averaged 4.7 points and 2.8 rebounds. He was one of a handful of players Boyland used to describe the team’s defensive potential.
As for Lawal, the Mavericks signed the Virginia Tech forward to a two-way contract Friday. He’s one of the most athletic players in his draft class and can use those physical strengths to soar for alley-oops or emphatic rejections.
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Two-way contracts are usually fluid and teams sometimes release players in favor of others. Mavericks center Moussa Cisse spent last season on a two-way deal. He is currently a restricted free agent, but was present at American Airlines Center on Tuesday, which could be a good indicator of his status with the team going forward.
Who else stands out?
Jaden Springer has the most NBA experience of anyone on the Mavericks’ summer league roster. The 28th overall pick out of 2021 has four years under his belt after stints with the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz. The 6-5 guard did not play in the NBA last season, but he could have a chance to prove he still remains in the NBA during his time in Las Vegas.
Center Ja’Vier Francis shares a local tie since he attended Houston from 2021 to 2025. He spent last season with the Warriors’ G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors.