Dallas Mavericks Blog – Page 2 – NBA Blog

Mavericks trading Luka Doncic to Lakers for Anthony Davis

The Lakers pulled off a stunning trade Saturday night, sending center Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team deal for star guard Luka Doncic to set up the organization for its post-LeBron James era with one of the NBA’s best young players.

The deal happened after the Lakers beat the New York Knicks 128-112 in Madison Square Garden, according to people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly. The Lakers sent Davis, young guard Max Christie and their 2029 first-round draft pick to Dallas for Doncic and forwards Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris. The Lakers also sent second-year guard Jalen Hood-Schifino to the Utah Jazz, who got second-round picks from the Lakers (their 2025 pick from the Clippers) and Mavericks to facilitate the trade.

Per the Dallas Morning News:

Doncic is in his seventh NBA season and averages 28.6 points for his career, third-highest in NBA history to this point.

This season, however, Doncic has only played in 22 games and has missed the last 18 with a left calf strain, drawing even closer scrutiny with his career-long struggles with maintaining optimal conditioning.

Until this trade, Doncic was eligible to receive a five-year, $345 million supermax extension from the Mavericks this offseason, and in recent weeks there had been rumblings about whether Dallas and its face of the franchise were headed to a crossroad of uncertainty

Injury update on Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that Mavericks forward/center Maxi Kleber has undergone surgery to repair a right foot fracture. Kleber sustained the injury during the Dallas game against Boston on Jan. 25.

Further medical updates on Kleber’s status will be provided as appropriate.

Mavericks sign Kylor Kelley, waive Jazian Gortman

The Dallas Mavericks have signed center Kylor Kelley to a Two-Way contract and requested waivers on Two-Way guard Jazian Gortman.

Kelley (7-0, 230) joins Dallas after spending the 2024-25 season with the G League’s South Bay Lakers, where he appeared in nine regular-season games, making seven starts, and averaging 9.2 points (.635 FG%), 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.7 blocks per game. In 14 Tip-off Tournament games for South Bay, he averaged 12.1 points (.692 FG%), 7.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.9 blocks in 13 starts.

Kelley was named to the NBA G League All-Defensive Team in 2023-24 after leading the G League in blocks per game (2.86) and total blocks (83) last season.

The Gervais, Oregon, native finished his collegiate career in Oregon, where he was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team in each of his two seasons with Oregon State (2019, 2020).

Kelley will wear No. 50 for the Mavericks.

Gortman (6-2, 184) originally signed with Dallas on July 10, and had his contract converted to a Two-Way contract on Oct. 18. He appeared in 16 games for the Mavericks this season, averaging 1.5 points in 3.6 minutes. Gortman also saw action in 12 total games, all starts, for the Mavericks’ G League team, the Texas Legends, in 2024-25. In five regular-season games for the Legends this year, he averaged 21.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.6 steals.

Dallas Mavericks name Rick Welts as new CEO

The Dallas Mavericks organization has named Rick Welts the new Chief Executive Officer of the NBA franchise, effective Jan. 1, 2025, following Cynt Marshall’s nearly seven-year tenure.

In his remarkable 46-year career in sports and entertainment, Welts has previously held roles as President and COO of the Golden State Warriors, President of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, and the NBA’s Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer and President of NBA Properties.

“Inspiring leadership has been a staple of the Dallas Mavericks since Cynt Marshall started leading the organization in 2018 as CEO. I’m extremely proud that her legacy of success and our family’s vision for the future of this franchise will soon be in the hands of another great leader,” said Mavericks Governor Patrick Dumont. “Rick Welts is among the most successful executives in the history of the NBA and a member of the Hall of Fame. To have him join us as we continue to build on the successful history of the Mavericks is a clear signal that this organization is serious about both growing its position as an elite NBA team and further positioning the franchise among the most popular sports teams in the world.”

“The chance to lead this organization in this city at this time is both incredibly exciting and unexpected,” said Welts. “I appreciate Patrick’s confidence in selecting me to build upon the culture and success that Cynt Marshall and Nico Harrison have created. My long-standing friendships with them both give me a lot of confidence in accepting this opportunity. I can’t wait to get started learning all I can about Dallas and how best to serve our fans and this community.”

“It gives me great pleasure to pass the baton to my friend, Rick Welts. From the day I joined the Mavs, I’ve benefited from his knowledge and vast experience in the sports and entertainment industry,” said Marshall. “I love our team so much and I’m happy that they will be in such great hands. There is no doubt that Rick and his family will embrace and enjoy the wonderful fans, employees and communities in Dallas.”

Mavericks convert Jazian Gortman deal into two-way contract

The Dallas Mavericks yesterday converted Jazian Gortman’s deal to a Two-Way contract.

Gortman, a 6-foot-2-inch, 184-pound guard out of Overtime Elite was originally signed by the Mavericks on July 10. Over four preseason games in 2024, including one start at the L.A. Clippers on Oct. 14, Gortman averaged 10.3 points (third on the team) with 1.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 20.5 minutes per game. He scored a preseason-high 19 points (7-13 FG, 4-7 3FG) vs. Memphis on Oct. 7.

After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, Gortman spent the 2023-24 season with the G League’s Wisconsin Herd and Rip City Remix. Over 27 games, four with the Herd and 21 with the Remix, he averaged 9.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 19.0 minutes. In 14 Showcase Cup games with Wisconsin, Gortman averaged 8.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 17.2 minutes.

Mavericks waive AJ Lawson

The Dallas Mavericks recently waived guard AJ Lawson.

Lawson played two seasons with Dallas, first signed as a Two-Way player in the 2022-23 season, and then to a regular contract during the 2023-24 season. In 56 games for the Mavericks, he averaged 3.4 points and 1.2 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per game.

Mavericks guard Dante Exum undergoes wrist surgery

Dallas Mavericks guard Dante Exum recently underwent surgery to repair a right wrist injury.

As previously reported, Exum sustained the right wrist injury earlier this month during training camp. Further medical updates on Exum’s status will be provided as appropriate.

Mavericks re-sign Markieff Morris

The Dallas Mavericks recently re-signed forward Markieff Morris.

Appearing in 26 games last season for the Mavericks, Morris (6-9, 245) averaged 2.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 8.3 minutes and broke double-digit scoring once in 2023-24 by scoring 10 points (4-9 FG, 2-5 3FG) alongside five rebounds and four assists in Portland (12/16/23).

Throughout 776 career NBA games, 379 of which were starts, with Dallas (2023-24), Brooklyn (2022-23), Miami (2021-22), the Los Angeles Lakers (2019-21), Detroit (2019-2020), Oklahoma City (2019), Washington (2016-2019) and Phoenix (2011-16), Morris averaged 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds,1.5 assists, and 23.6 minutes. After being acquired by the Lakers in 2019-20, Morris helped Los Angeles to an NBA championship, appearing in each of the 21 playoff games that season.

As the 13th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the 13-year veteran was selected by the Phoenix Suns following three seasons (2008-11) at the University of Kansas.

Mavericks 2024-25 preseason game schedule

The Dallas Mavericks 2024-25 preseason schedule begins with a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 7 at American Airlines Center.

The team’s four-game preseason slate also includes home games against the Utah Jazz on Oct. 10 and Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 17.

Dallas’ lone road game in the preseason will be at the L.A. Clippers on Oct. 14 in their new arena, the Intuit Dome.

Tickets for home preseason games will go on sale to the general public on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 10 a.m.

Mavericks sign Kessler Edwards, waive Alex Fudge

The Dallas Mavericks recently signed forward Kessler Edwards to a Two-Way contract.

And in a related move, Dallas requested waivers on Two-Way forward Alex Fudge.

Edwards (6-7, 203) holds career averages of 3.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 11.9 minutes in 138 career games, 27 of which were starts, with the Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings. Appearing in 54 games for Sacramento last season, Edwards averaged 1.7 points and 5.1 minutes per game. Having appeared in four games, two of which were starts, during his 2023-24 tenure with the G League’s Stockton Kings, Edwards averaged 20.3 points (.459 FG%, 1.000 FT%), 7.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks in 31.1 minutes per game.

Originally drafted 44th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Brooklyn Nets, Edwards started in 23 of his 48 games appearances during his rookie season for the Nets, averaging 5.9 points and 3.6 rebounds. Before being traded to Sacramento in 2022-23, Edwards appeared in 14 games for the Nets averaging 3.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists throughout 22 games, three of which he started.

Edwards played three seasons at Pepperdine University, earning First-Team All-West Coast Conference (2021), Second-Team All-WCC (2020) and WCC All-Freshman Team honors (2019).

Edwards will wear No. 20 for the Mavericks.

Fudge (6-8, 200) appeared in two games for the Mavericks, one of which he recorded a season-high 11 points (5-9 FG, 1-3 3FG) and three steals.