Is continued improvement in Lawson’s future?
A.J. Lawson keeps hanging around. The 24-year-old journeyman wing has suited up for Summer League in Sacramento and Las Vegas for three different NBA teams (Atlanta, Miami, and Dallas), signed NBA contracts with three teams (Atlanta, Minnesota, and Dallas), signed four two-way contracts, and played for three G League teams (College Park, Iowa, and Texas).
His bouncing around and hard work paid off last season. Not only did he play in 52 games with the Dallas Mavericks, including 10 playoff games, but the Mavericks converted his two-way contract into a four-year contract. Now officially part of the regular roster, Lawson will have the opportunity to fight for a spot in the rotation and earn his minutes.
Big Question
Although Lawson inked his new contract in March, the Mavericks saw fit to send him to Summer League…again. Given his experience, he should have been a standout, but he got off to a rocky start. He had 16 points but shot 4-16 from the floor, including 1-5 from deep. Lawson was a little more efficient in the second game, scoring 14 points on 4-10 shooting. It wasn’t his best showing, especially when he was an experienced leader on the team.
Lawson turned it around in the final three games. He averaged 20.6 points while shooting 57.7 percent. The question this season will be whether he can capitalize on his strong finish at Summer League, translate it to the NBA, and become a valuable contributor on the court.
Best Case Scenario
At only 24, Lawson hasn’t entered his prime years. He’s still maturing. If he can put things together this season, Lawson can develop into a contributor off the bench, spelling the starters, playing 10 to 15 minutes, and averaging five to 10 points per game. He’s proven he can be an efficient scorer, so this is well within the scope of possibilities.
Worst Case Scenario
Things could also turn bleak fast. Despite earning a regular contract last season, Lawson could have a poor training camp, see a diminished role in preseason, and get cut before the start of the regular season.
Season Goal
Lawson’s reality probably fits somewhere between his best- and worst-case scenarios this season. He can be more than a victory cigar player, but he’ll have to earn the trust of head coach Jason Kidd. He should look for his spots and play with composure. If he does that, he should see his opportunities grow and his role increase as the regular season progresses.
Overall
A.J. Lawson likely won’t take the league by storm and turn in an All-Star-caliber season out of nowhere. However, he can certainly build upon his growth during his time with the Mavericks. He scored a career-high 17 points last season, and it’s well within reason that he bests it this season. Lawson’s development into a reliable role player is well within his reach, but he has to get the chance to prove himself.