In a post on their official X account, the Dallas Mavericks announced they have waived guard AJ Lawson.
The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have waived guard AJ Lawson.
— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) October 8, 2024
Lawson spent parts of the last two seasons of his career in Dallas. In 56 games with the team, the 24-year-old averaged 3.4 points and 1.3 rebounds. Furthermore, he shot 45.7% from the field and 30.7% from beyond the arc during his time with the Mavericks.
In 2018, Lawson earned a silver medal in the FIBA Under-18 AmeriCup while representing Canada. Additionally, he also appeared on Canada’s roster in the first round of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
One interesting note is that Dallas still has one open two-way contract spot. Currently, Brandon Williams and Kessler Edwards occupy two of their three spots. There is a possibility that the Mavericks bring Lawson back on this type of deal. He was previously on a two-way contract before the Mavericks converted it to a standard deal back in March.
Dallas Mavericks Waive FIBA Basketball World Cup Participant
What AJ Lawson Offers Brings to the Table
Lawson provides high energy on the court and is very athletic. While he is not a knockdown three-point shooter or defensive specialist, he can hold his own in both aspects. Lawson is at least a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions. Especially for any contending team, this is a useful trait for a bubble player like Lawson to have. Additionally, he is a good hustle player and can provide solid minutes off the bench.
There is a lot to like about Lawson and what he can do on the court. However, he could not get consistent minutes during his time in Dallas. This will prove even more difficult given the current structure of the Mavericks’ roster. Lawson was slated to sit behind players like Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, Quentin Grimes, and Jaden Hardy. If a two-way contract spot is a possibility for Lawson, it may be his best option for this season.
Where the Dallas Mavericks Stand Without AJ Lawson
The Mavericks are just a few months removed from their NBA Finals loss at the hands of the Boston Celtics. They were already a talented team, but they had an interesting offseason as well. Most notably, the team acquired Klay Thompson from the Golden State Warriors this summer. Thompson, though primarily a shooting guard, is slated to be the team’s starting small forward this season. Additionally, they acquired Dinwiddie, Grimes, and Naji Marshall.
There is plenty of competition in the Western Conference, but the Mavericks have a legitimate chance to make it back to the NBA Finals next year.
