Art Garcia | Mavs.com

Posted: July 10, 2008

Rick Carlisle has joked a few times that this summer league team shouldn’t lose a game. He’s not trying to put any extra pressure on Dwane Casey, who’ll head up the team that left Thursday evening for the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

“We feel like personnel and talent-wise that we’re going to have as good a team out there,” Carlisle said. “I expect us to win games. Whether or not we’ll win every game, I don’t know that but we should be very good.”

He’s just being realistic looking at a roster that features several players that could be on the big club come November. Athletic swingman Gerald Green, a former first-round pick, will be on the team. James Singleton, a versatile forward, is close to nailing down a roster spot. NBA vets Richie Frahm and Keith McLeod are also in the mix.

There’s the promising rookie contingent of Shan Foster, Ronnie Seibutis and Reyshawn Terry – all three second-round picks. Undrafted rookies JuJuan Smith and Reggie Williams were also being considered on Draft night.

“There are ten or eleven guys out here that we feel are great NBA prospects,” Carlisle said. “There’s opportunity here because our roster is in flux, so it’s an exciting situation if you’re in their shoes. It’s exciting for us too because we get a chance to evaluate.”

Casey and fellow assistant Terry Stotts presided over the last workout in Dallas. It’s been an intense week of practice, as the new coaching staff takes the first steps in implementing a new system. Teaching has dominated the proceedings, but there’s also been plenty of time to scrimmage and work up a sweat during a few three-hour sessions and two-a-days.

The week began Monday with 17 players, with 15 making the trip. Pops Mensah-Bonsu stayed in Dallas, but he hopes to join the team in the next few days. Yaroslav Korolev, another NBA vet, is expected to leave the team before the Rocky Mountain Revue (July 18-25) in Salt Lake City.

At the end of it, several could be invited back for training camp in October. The Mavs hit on free agent Brandon Bass last summer. They’re hoping lightning strikes again.  

“Trying to find that diamond in the rough,” Casey said, “that’s what summer league is all about. Not only guys on our team, but also the guys on the other teams.”

So what about going undefeated? Carlisle likely won’t be too disappointed if this version of the Mavs drops a game or two along the way.

“Of course you want to win,” Casey said, “but it’s about scouting talent, players improving and making sure you put guys in proper situations where we can make sure we see what they can do.”

McLeod looking to make his point

Hoping to win a job as one of Jason Kidd’s backups, Keith McLeod may have a leg up in the competition. The Bowling Green product spent part of the 2006-07 season playing for Carlisle in Indiana.

“It helps a lot,” said McLeod, who averaged 4.2 points and 2.0 assists in 22 games for the Pacers. “He’s come into a situation where he’s not familiar with a lot of guys here on a personal basis. I played for him in Indiana so he already knows me, and it’s a situation where I can help this team. So hopefully things go well.”

McLeod has 200 games worth of NBA experience, including 88 starts. After spending last year in Europe playing for Montepaschi Siena, McLeod is trying to make his way back to familiar soil.

“Here is an opportunity and I’m just trying to make the best of it,” he said. “Coach told me to just come out and play and get wins in the summer league. That’s been the focus, trying to have a good summer league.”

The Mavs appear to have room for another point guard on the roster. In addition to Kidd, Jason Terry can play the point and newly-signed J.J. Barea is back. The coaching staff also wants to give Ronnie Seibutis a strong look at point guard.