Breaking news: The Game Between the Mavericks and the Wizards Has Been Officially Postponed…
There is no denying that the Dallas Mavericks are having some of the worst injury luck in the team’s history because they just can’t seem to get healthy. Not only did the Mavs lose their best player, Luka Doncic, to injury, but nearly every member on the team has been sidelined for a long time.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, the Mavericks lost badly to the Boston Celtics on Saturday night, and Maxi Kleber was also diagnosed with a fractured foot. Kleber was probably one of Dallas’ top trade assets given his defensive versatility and transferable contract, so his injury is not only significant because the team loses another forward off the bench.
The Mavericks were forced to waive a fan favorite guard, Jazian Gortman, in favor of a G League star on Sunday night due to Kleber’s prolonged absence and the team’s loss of much-needed depth.
Kylor Kelley, a former South Bay Laker, is the Mavericks’ newest addition and might provide Dallas with the much-needed center depth that supporters have been pleading for.
Kylor Kelley is the ideal addition to Dallas for three reasons.
While fans expected the Mavericks to make a roster move in the coming days, Kelley’s signing came out of nowhere. In addition to being a star at South Bay, Kelley also played preseason basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Due to his exceptional ability to roll off screens on the offensive end and block shots at an extraordinary rate, Kelley was signed to South Bay after playing overseas and going undrafted out of Oregon State in 2020. Kelley may have had his best season in the G League, averaging 9.2 points and 1.7 blocks per game.
3. Kelley’s defense is prepared for the pros.
With Dereck Lively II sidelined for the foreseeable future, Dallas has missed the 7-footer’s ability to block shots. However, Kelley could show to have potential on the defensive end as well.
Kelley manned the paint down low and recorded just under two blocks per game on South Bay, making him the team’s perfect shot blocker. Kelley’s 7-foot physique and 7-foot-3 height make him a perfect five in the modern NBA, in addition to his blocking skills.
Kelley has the potential to be an above-average defender right away, even though his defense is very different from what Mavs supporters are used to with Lively II.
2. Kelley is the ideal substitute for Lively II.
Kelley has a special talent for becoming one of the Mavericks’ top rim-rolling centers on the offensive end. In the absence of a reliable point guard in South Bay, Kelley showed off his exceptional rolling skills, but with Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, the 7-footer might be getting his greatest chance yet.
In light of this, during his tenure with South Bay this season, Kelley shot 63.5 percent from the field. In addition to thrilling supporters, this statistic demonstrated that the Mavericks had done their research before signing a player to address their urgent depth issue.
Although Kelley still has a lot to prove, a two-way contract would be the ideal chance for him to demonstrate to the Mavericks why he belongs in the NBA. Dallas has always been a haven for rim-rolling bigs with lob-catching skills, and Kelley might soon be added to the list of prosperous Maverick lob catchers.
1. The Mavericks provide desperately needed depth at the five
Although Kelley is essentially a two-way acquisition, he provides the Mavericks with much-needed depth at the center. In addition to being excellent in the position Dallas needs him to fill, Kelley might be the ideal backup center given the team’s ongoing injury problems.
With Dwight Powell, Kleber, and Lively II out, it’s obvious the Mavericks needed flexibility at the five spots, though Kelley’s future in Dallas is still unclear. He will probably start playing significant minutes straight away, possibly starting against the Washington Wizards on Monday night.
As Kelley attempts to demonstrate why he merits more NBA experience, the Mavericks now have the ideal chance to get the most out of him.
