Dallas Mavericks’ 2024 Draft Pick Signs with French Club
The Dallas Mavericks’ only pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Melvin Ajinca, will continue his career overseas. The Mavs traded up from No. 58 to No. 51 to select Ajinca from France, with initial plans to keep him abroad as they focused on players who could contribute immediately.
Although Ajinca joined the Mavericks in Las Vegas for the Summer League, where he averaged 7.2 points per game on 29.5% shooting, his performance didn’t solidify his spot on the team. Consequently, the Mavericks chose to sign Spencer Dinwiddie, using their last open roster slot, leading Ajinca to sign with ASVEL Basket in the French Pro A League.
Ajinca, who fits the mold of a 3&D wing, still needs to work on his shooting. While the Mavs could have offered him a two-way contract, they opted to retain his draft rights to evaluate his future potential. It’s common for late second-round picks, especially those from overseas, to take time before making a significant impact on their drafting team.
Currently, the Mavericks have no open roster spots but could consider waiving A.J. Lawson to bring back a player like Markieff Morris.
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