Rookie crop headlines summer squad
Earl K. Sneed takes a look at the trio of rookies that will join forces to headline the Dallas Mavericks' Summer League squad, which will begin practicing this week before leaving for Las Vegas.
Rookie crop headlines summer squad
No pressure, young men.
After missing out in their attempts at snagging a “big fish” in the early stage of free agency, there figures to be plenty of importance placed on mentoring young talent as the Dallas Mavericks’ Summer League team gathers this week.
Headlined by third-year guard Dominique Jones and a trio of rookies, the summer squad will compete for five games in a 24-team league in Las Vegas beginning on Sunday. The team will also feature first-round acquisition Jared Cunningham and second-rounders Bernard James (33rd overall pick) and Jae Crowder (34th overall pick).
Cunningham, a 6-foot-4 combo guard that the Mavs’ brass says possesses athleticism compared to Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, played three seasons at Oregon State and garnered First Team All-Pac 12 honors as a junior after averaging 17.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old James took a much different route to the professional ranks, serving as a Staff Sergeant for six years in the Air Force, including three tours of duty to Iraq, Afghanistan and Qatar.
An interior defensive specialist, James averaged 10.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks last season, earning a place on the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Defensive team in addition to the Most Courageous Award by the United States Basketball Writers of America.
The Mavs’ front office also addressed a third area of need, adding the 6-foot-6, 235-pound Crowder after a four-year colligate career. Transferring from Howard College, where he was rewarded the NJCAA Player of the Year, Crowder continued to star at Marquette. In his senior year, Crowder showed the ability to fill up the stat sheet, picking up the Big East Player of the Year after averaging 17.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
All three new additions are also expected to fit into a new culture while competing for roster spots once training camp gets under way in the fall, according to Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle.
“It's a time for change right now, so we're gonna load up on the right kind of guys and we're gonna coach the heck out of 'em. … We feel we'll have a really good Summer League team this year. Guys will get experience and we've gotta get them ready for the fall,” Carlisle said.
