There’s a method to the madness
Roster maneuvers late in preseason and training camp can sometimes appear confusing. The Dallas Mavericks’ signing and cutting of guards Jamir Chaplin and Jarod Lucas is a perfect example.
On Friday, the Mavericks publicly announced the signing of Chaplin and Lucas a little after 1 p.m. Central Time. Less than 24 hours later, the team announced that it had waived both of them.
One day in the NBA. Tough break, right? Well, not so fast. This might be the break both players need to realize their NBA aspirations.
Chaplin and Lucas signed Exhibit-10 contracts with the Mavericks. Exhibit-10 deals are one-year minimum salary agreements that aren’t guaranteed. Teams often use them to bring in players to compete on their Summer League or G League teams.
With Summer League a distant memory, both look bound for Frisco and the Texas Legends. Exhibit-10 contracts can also carry a lucrative bonus of $75,000 for players who get waived by their NBA team but spend at least 60 days with that team’s G League affiliate.
Chaplin most recently appeared in two games with the Milwaukee Bucks during Summer League. He totaled two points and a rebound in 8.8 minutes.
He finished his college career as a graduate transfer student at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He averaged 14.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 33.9 minutes in 34 games with the Trojans. He played four seasons at South Florida before transferring.
Lucas played with the Mavericks during Summer League this past July. He averaged 7.5 points, 1.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 13.3 minutes in four games.
He played his final two collegiate seasons with the University of Nevada. In 67 games, he averaged 17.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 33.5 minutes. Lucas previously played three seasons at Oregon State from 2019-2022.
Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images