Art Garcia | Mavs.com

Posted: July 7, 2008

Preparation began in earnest Monday afternoon for a number of hopefuls looking to hook on with the Mavericks next season. The spots are more secure for some than others, as summer league practices opened at American Airlines Center.

“There are a lot of things that can happen between now and the end of October,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “I lived it firsthand as a third-round pick that unexpectedly made it.”

The team will play 11 games total at the NBA Summer League presented by EA Sports (Las Vegas) and Rocky Mountain Revue (Salt Lake City) beginning July 11 and running through July 25. Carlisle’s assistant Dwane Casey will coach the Vegas entry. He will be assisted by Terry Stotts, Mario Elie and Popeye Jones.

The games start Friday against the L.A. Clippers (7 p.m. CT) and all five NBA Summer League games will be broadcast nationally on NBATV. Locally, KTXA-21 will broadcast the first three games live, while the last two will run at 7 p.m. CT on tape delay. Revue games will not be televised.

The summer league entry will be made up from the 17 bodies who attended the first workout, with 11 players confirmed. Practices will run all week before the coaching staff decides on the 12-14 headed for Las Vegas.

The team includes recent free-agent signing Gerald Green, 2008 second-round pick Shan Foster, and 2007 picks Reyshawn Terry and Ronnie Seibutis. The team also features NBA veterans Richie Frahm, Keith McLeod, Yaroslav Korolev, James Singleton, Pape Sow and Pops Mensah-Bonsu, a former Maverick.

President of basketball operations Donnie Nelson offered up a scouting report on some of the summer-league invites:

    Seibutis:  “He kind of reminds you of a younger Doug Collins. He can play the 2 and swing over to the 1, he’s athletic, a playmaker and high-energy guy. We’re anticipating a good summer league for him.”

    Terry: “The operative word for him is consistency. He can’t look like an All Star one game and not the next. He’s got to put together a consistent string over games.”

    Foster: “Arguably the best shooter in the Draft. He’s got 3-point range, is long and athletic. I think there are some things to his game that haven’t been uncovered yet.”

    JaJuan Smith: “JaJuan is just a freakish scorer that can put the ball in the basket. Every team in the NBA is looking for that. He was a very high consideration for us with our draft pick.”

    Frahm: “Richie is a true shooter and absolute pro in every sense of the word. You know what you’re getting with him. He is a strong candidate to make anyone’s roster.”

    Mensah-Bonsu: “Recruited heavily by overseas teams, so we’re competing against that. Energetic, rebounder, runs like a deer. He’s improved his low-post game.”

    Singleton: “He’s guarded some of the tougher scorers in the league. An effective defender and mid-range shooter.”

    Korolev: “Might be at that point of his career if he’s ready to take the next step.”

    Sow: “Played with Toronto, a shot blocker and rebounder.”

2008 Dallas Mavericks Summer League Roster (Confirmed as of July 7)

Coaching Staff:             Rick Carlisle, Terry Stotts, Dwane Casey, Mario Elie, Popeye Jones

NBA Summer League Schedule (Las Vegas)

Rocky Mountain Revue Schedule (Salt Lake City)