McKinney, Texas — A roster blending first-round draft choices and players from five continents beyond North America will represent the Dallas Mavericks when NBA Summer League tips off Thursday in Las Vegas. The 13-man squad was formally unveiled Friday.
Morez Johnson Jr., taken ninth overall out of Michigan, leads the group after signing his rookie contract Thursday. Sergio De Larrea, the 25th pick acquired from the Lakers, followed with a four-year deal Friday. The Spanish guard brings a championship pedigree from Valencia Basket, where he won Liga ACB Best Young Player.
The Mavericks' summer roster draws from Spain, England, Russia, Canada, and the United States. De Larrea is joined by Spanish twins Guillermo and Jorge Diaz Graham. Tobi Lawal represents England, Vsevolod Ishchenko Russia, and Ryan Nembhard Canada. Lawal and Ishchenko were second-round picks at 48th and 56th.
Nembhard returns for his second summer after a rookie campaign in which he averaged 6.6 points and 5.3 assists in roughly 20 minutes per game. John Poulakidas and Tyler Smith, both holdovers from last season, bring NBA experience to the young group.
