The Dallas Mavericks have converted guard McKinley Wright IV to a Two-Way contract and signed guard Grant Riller.
Wright IV (5-11, 192) originally signed with Dallas on Aug. 15 and appeared in all three games for the Mavericks during the 2022 exhibition season, averaging 3.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 13.8 minutes per game. In his preseason debut, Wright IV recorded eight points, a game-high 10 assists, zero turnovers and a game-high plus-11 rating in the Mavericks’ 98-96 victory over the Thunder in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Oct. 5.
Wright IV, who is set to turn 24 years old on Oct. 25, went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft after a four-year career at the University of Colorado, where he finished as the school’s all-time leader in assists (683) and double-figure scoring games (109). The three-time First Team All-Pac-12 selection (2019, 2020, 2021) also became the only men’s basketball player in Pac-12 history to produce at least 1,800 points, 600 assists and 600 rebounds.
Riller (6-1, 190) was selected by Charlotte in the second round (56th overall pick) of the 2020 NBA Draft and signed a Two-Way contract with the Hornets on Nov. 30, 2020. He appeared in seven games for Charlotte as a rookie and averaged 2.6 points in 3.9 minutes per contest. Riller also saw action in 13 games (all starts) for the Hornets’ G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm, in 2020-21 and averaged 13.1 points, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 25.7 minutes.
Riller signed a Two-Way deal with Philadelphia on Aug. 30, 2021, but was waived by the club on Dec. 19, 2021, after appearing in four Showcase Cup games for the franchise’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats.
The Orlando, Florida, native was a four-year player at the College of Charleston, where he earned First Team All-CAA honors in each of his final three seasons for the Cougars (2018, 2019, 2020) and finished as the third player in program history to eclipse 2,000 career points.
