Mavericks are quietly set to sign a shocking fourth rookie that no one expected
Within the span of just over 24 hours, the Dallas Mavericks added three rookies to an already loaded core. On the evening of June 25, the Mavs selected Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. A little more than a day later, they signed Ryan Nembhard and Miles Kelly to two-way deals, bringing their current total to three rookies entering the 2025-26 season.
This is more rookies than normal for Dallas, as they seem to be emphasizing youth as they begin the Flagg era, but Nembhard, Flagg, and Kelly may not be the only rookies in town next season. Entering training camp, Dallas has 20 players signed (15 standard deals, two two-way deals, and three Exhibit 10s). This means that their third and final two-way contract will likely go to one of the players on an Exhibit 10 contract, and all three of those players happen to be rookies.
After signing Jamarion Sharp earlier this week, it sounds like he will fight it out with Moussa Cisse and Matthew Cleveland to prove that they belong in Dallas long-term.
Mavericks are eyeing multiple rookies with final roster spot
Mavericks fans are already familiar with Sharp, as he has been on the last two Summer League teams and had some impressive moments during last preseason for Dallas, but since he has never suited up in an NBA regular-season game, he would be considered a rookie.
If the Mavericks are determined to sign a big man to their final two-way spot since Nembhard is a guard and Kelly is a wing, Cisse would be the only one who could pose a threat to Sharp finally securing a two-way spot. Cisse's energy, ability to run the floor, and athleticism stood out in Las Vegas for Summer League, and he could find himself on the Mavs' roster for the regular season if he shows drastic improvement during the preseason and training camp.
While another center seems like it makes the most sense considering Dallas' center room is notorious for getting injured, they could roll with another wing to join Kelly. And that's where Cleveland comes into play.
Cleveland will step into his first NBA action after playing four years of college basketball (two seasons at Florida State and two seasons at the University of Miami), and he'll join Sharp and Cisse as a player who the Mavs brought to Summer League who will now be on the training camp roster.
His best game of Summer League came against the Orlando Magic, as he finished with 17 points, four rebounds, two steals, and one block while shooting 6-11 from the field. He showed off his jumper and finishing around the rim in this game, picking up right where he left off in his final season as a Hurricane.
Cleveland averaged 17.6 points per game while shooting 51 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from downtown, and his improvement as a shooter at the collegiate level looks promising as he begins his NBA career.
He seems like the biggest sleeper in this group, and with Cisse and Sharp not looking fully NBA-ready, he could ultimately end up being the one who sticks around after preseason ends.
Regardless of who Nico Harrison and Jason Kidd decide to give the final two-way spot to, it looks like it'll be a rookie, and the Mavericks will be heading into the 2025-26 season with four rookies on the roster. Unless the Mavericks sign their final two-way player from a different team after the preseason, they will be giving their last roster spot to a first-year player, and this is a great plan as they begin the Flagg era.
Carrying four rookies into the regular season is uncharted territory for Dallas, and it shows that they are prioritizing youth development over short-t
NFL picks: Tyreek Hill, TreVeyon Henderson among best player props for Patriots vs. Dolphins in Week 2
The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins are both looking to recover from Week 1 losses when they meet in Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The Patriots lost to the Las Vegas Raiders 20-13, while the Dolphins got stunned by the Indianapolis Colts 33-8. Here's a look at some of our favorite player prop bets for Patriots vs. Dolphins in Week 2.
If you're new to NFL betting, take a look at our NFL betting guide as the 2025 season rolls along.
We'll be using odds from DraftKings Sportsbook to look at our top props for this game. For the latest Patriots vs. Dolphins odds, player props and picks, check out the SportsLine Projection Model.
Top Patriots vs. Dolphins props:
- Tyreek Hill Under 65.5 receiving yards (-114)
- TreVeyon Henderson Over 37.5 rushing yards (-109)
- De'Von Achane Over 63.5 rushing yards (-110)
Tyreek Hill Under 65.5 receiving yards
Even with Jaylen Waddle potentially missing this contest with an injury, Hill doesn't seem to be in the right place for Miami. He only managed 40 receiving yards against the Colts, a team that ranked 26th in passing yards allowed per game a year ago. The Patriots have been burned by Hill a few times, but they've generally managed to keep him quiet in these contests. Throw in the bad vibes and off-field distractions, and I see another lackluster performance from Miami's mercurial star receiver in Week 2.
TreVeyon Henderson Over 37.5 rushing yards
The Dolphins actually only allowed 3.9 yards per carry to the Colts in Week 1, so they do present a challenge for Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson in Week 2. The Patriots seem content to operate this backfield like a committee, but the Ohio State rookie was clearly more explosive than the veteran in Week 1, and I think head coach Mike Vrabel will turn him loose in Week 2. Henderson should see more carries in this game, and it only takes one sizable run to go past this relatively low line.
De'Von Achane Over 63.5 rushing yards
The Patriots have done a good job bottling up Achane over the last two seasons. In three games against New England, the Dolphins running back has combined for 55 yards. However, Achane is now the clear lead back in Miami and should see a larger workload than he has in the past. The Dolphins are probably going to take the ball out of Tua Tagovailoa's hands a bit in this game and try to control the contest more on the ground. New England didn't yield much to Ashton Jeanty in Week 1, but Achane has a speed gear the rookie running back doesn't. I think Achane can rip off a couple big runs to go past this line.
