The Dallas Mavericks have lucked into the solution to their point guard problem with the emergence of undrafted rookie Ryan Nembhard. Nembhard came into the NBA as a sharpshooting, undersized floor general who has seamlessly adapted to the physicality of the Association.
He’s playing so well, his next contract is already on the team’s mind. The Smoking Cuban’s Noah Weber believes he’ll be converted to a two-way contract by the end of the season, with Dante Exum getting the axe to make room.
“He has already separated himself as the best passer on the team, and all signs are pointing to Dallas signing him to a standard contract later this season. Nembhard is on a two-way deal, meaning that he can only be eligible to play in 50 games for the Mavericks, but they should be able to convert his contract before that even becomes an issue,” Weber wrote.
“The easiest thing to do would be to waive Exum while converting Nembhard's two-way deal to a standard contract and signing a different player to the then-open two-way spot created by Nembhard, and they'll be eligible to make such a move beginning on January 6. As things stand now, Dallas is hard-capped at the second apron, meaning they can't make any roster additions until January 6.”
Exum will miss the 2025-26 NBA season after needing a second knee surgery on his right knee. He’s been a rotational piece since 2023, playing through the team’s NBA Finals run and the post-Luka Doncic era.
Ryan, like his brother Andrew, has emerged as a rookie steal. Andrew was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NBA draft. Ryan signed a two-way contract right after not hearing his name at the 2025 NBA draft.
Ryan Nembhard addresses contract status
Nembhard didn’t sound overly concerned about his future after the Mavs’ 118-108 win over the Miami Heat. He scored 15 points, dished out 13 assists, and grabbed five rebounds on Wednesday night.
“I’ll let my agents and everybody figure that out,” Nembhard said when asked by The Dallas Morning News if he’s giving any thought to the potential business aspect of his standout play. “Obviously that’s there, and obviously I’m on a two-way.
“But at the end of the day, if I go on the court and handle business and do my job at a high level, then that will take care of itself when the time comes.
“So I’m not too concerned about that. I’m just trying to win games and enjoy hooping.”
Nembhard is hooping in a way that has tough questions being asked. The state of the team likely dictates that changes will be made either way.
Keep winning, and a buyout candidate could need a spot. Revert back to losing, and veterans like Exum don’t make sense taking up a roster spot. He already has his money, and if the Mavericks want to keep him, they can re-sign him in the summer, even if taking his access to team facilities probably isn’t the best player-relations move.