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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)<\/p>\n
Michael Conroy\/AP<\/p>\n
The Dallas Mavericks<\/a> will send their\u00a0promising group<\/a> of new draftees and talented prospects to the desert for the annual Las Vegas Summer League showcase.<\/p>\n 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.<\/a>‘s\u00a0unofficial 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.<\/p>\n Here are five things to watch as the Mavericks embark on their latest summer league journey:<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Johnson Jr.’s debut<\/p>\n The Mavericks\u2019 summer roster is highlighted by Johnson, who was selected with\u00a0the No. 9 overall pick<\/a> in last month\u2019s NBA draft.<\/p>\n 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\u00a0against Aday Mara, but neither could be available because first-round picks are usually shut down by the end of the tournament.<\/p>\n Cooper Flagg played\u00a0two games in Las Vegas last summer<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n International presence<\/p>\n The Mavericks\u2019 summer squad is full of players who have international roots, highlighted by Sergio De Larrea<\/a>, the Spanish point guard selected with the 25th overall pick.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s energy has stood out the most, aside from his balanced offensive skillset.<\/p>\n \u201cReally high IQ player,\u201d Boylan said. \u201cCan handle it. Can pass. He\u2019s probably thrown five alley-oops in practice so far. He\u2019s got great chemistry with the guys. Can make a shot. Defend. Just a really well-rounded player. Super mature. He\u2019s been a joy to be around.\u201d<\/p>\n Vsevolod Ishchenko, a 6-8 guard from Russia<\/a>, 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\u00a0will prioritize Ishchenko\u2019s ability to shoot 3s as he connected on 46.3% of his triples in 43 games for Russia\u2019s Lokomotiv Kuban.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Dallas also has Nigerian center\u00a0Kaodirichi 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe European style is also a little bit more inclined to how we actually want to play, too,\u201d Boyland said. \u201cThere is a level of unselfishness, of defense first, of work culture. I think those guys fit in really well.\u201d<\/p>\n Will\u00a0Nembhard play?<\/p>\n Speaking of international play, Ryan\u00a0Nembhard just finished playing with the Canadian men\u2019s national team in FIBA Americas World Cup qualifiers. The undrafted sophomore earned a standard contract with Dallas last season after\u00a0beginning 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.<\/p>\n Nembhard is expected to meet the Mavericks in Las Vegas in time for Thursday\u2019s 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\u00a0show signs of improvement on defense and more efficiency from the field.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n What about the two-ways?<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n