Mavericks Sign Tyler Smith, Waive Miles Kelly
The Mavericks have signed free agent forward Tyler Smith to a two-way contract, per a team press release (Twitter link). In a related move, guard Miles Kelly has been waived.
Smith, 21, was the 33rd overall pick in the 2024 draft and spent his rookie season with the Bucks. However, he played a very limited role in Milwaukee, logging just 122 total minutes across 23 NBA appearances.
Smith played more regularly in the G League, averaging 25.1 minutes per contest across 25 outings for the Wisconsin Herd, but he didn’t put up big numbers for the Bucks’ NBAGL affiliate, averaging 10.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game with a .415/.327/.824 shooting line.
The victim of a roster crunch in Milwaukee, Smith was waived by the Bucks in October and entered the G League draft, where he was selected second overall by the Osceola Magic. The 6’9″ forward was subsequently traded to the Capital City Go-Go, Washington’s affiliate, appearing in eight games before his rights were acquired by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
Smith signed a two-way contract with the Rockets in early December, but he didn’t appear in any NBA games prior to being cut in early January before his deal became guaranteed for the rest of the season. He has played 19 regular season games (27.0 MPG) with the Vipers, averaging 15.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.1 SPG and 1.1 BPG on .509/.391/.690 shooting.
Kelly, a 6’4″ shooting guard, spent his first three college seasons at Georgia Tech prior to transferring to Auburn in 2024/25. He went undrafted in June and quickly signed a two-way deal with Dallas.
Kelly has played a modest NBA role for the Mavs, averaging 3.1 points and 1.7 rebounds in 9.6 minutes per game across 14 appearances. The 23-year-old has spent much of 2025/26 in the G League with the Texas Legends, appearing in 26 games (32.5 MPG) and averaging 19.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.4 APG and 0.9 SPG while shooting 37.1% from three-point range on high volume (9.1 attempts).
As we noted in another story, Dallas has also finalized a two-way deal with John Poulakidas, a sharpshooting wing who had been playing for the San Diego Clippers.
John Poulakidas Signs Two-Way Deal With Mavericks
11:31 am: Poulakidas’ two-way deal is official, per the Mavs (Twitter link).
7:42 am: Free agent wing John Poulakidas will sign a two-way contract with the Mavericks, reports Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (via Twitter).
Poulakidas went undrafted in 2025 after playing four years of college basketball for Yale. He averaged 19.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 27 games as a senior last season and shot 40.2% from three-point range during his college career.
A 6’6″ shooting guard, Poulakidas signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Clippers in the fall, was waived before the regular season began, and has spent the 2025/26 campaign in the G League with the San Diego Clippers.
The 22-year-old got off to a relatively slow start in the NBAGL, making 13 Tip-Off Tournament appearances and averaging 8.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game while shooting 38.5% from deep. Poulakidas has played a larger role for San Diego since the regular season began, averaging 14.7 PPG and 3.8 RPG in 27 games (30.9 MPG) and shooting 47.3% from long distance on high volume.
Dallas will have an open two-way spot once the team officially converts Ryan Nembhard to a two-year standard contract. Assuming his deal is finalized in the next three days, Poulakidas will be eligible to be active for up to 12 regular season games for the Mavericks.
Mavs Promote Ryan Nembhard To Two-Year Standard Deal
March 1: Nembhard has officially been converted to a standard deal, the Mavericks announced (Twitter link).
February 28: The Mavericks are promoting two-way guard Ryan Nembhard to a two-year standard contract that features a team option for 2026/27, league sources tell Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Twitter link).
Nembhard’s agents, Todd Ramasar and Jaafar Choufani of Life Sports, confirmed the news to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
Nembhard is averaging 6.7 points and 4.9 assists in 38 appearances with the NBA club, including 17 starts. In those starts, he’s averaging 9.9 points and 6.1 assists while making 44.4% of his 3-point attempts.
However, Nembhard hasn’t appeared in a game with the Mavericks since February 5 as he approached the 50-game limit for two-way players. The rookie got an extensive look from the coaching staff earlier in the season due to backcourt injuries and made the most of it.
Dallas opened a roster spot by deciding to waive Tyus Jones. Once Nembhard is promoted into that opening, the Mavs will have an open two-way slot, which can be filled any time before the March 4 deadline for two-way signings.
Nembhard, 22, went undrafted out of Gonzaga. He signed his two-way contract shortly after the draft. Earlier in the season, he discussed his hopes of getting a standard deal.
“I’ll let my agents and everybody figure that out,” Nembhard said. “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.”
Khris Middleton To Finish Season With Mavericks
Khris Middleton has decided not to pursue a buyout and will remain with the Mavericks for the rest of the season, sources tell Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Twitter link).
To be eligible to appear in the playoffs with another team, Middleton would have needed to finalize a buyout with Dallas by the end of the day on Sunday. He was considering his options earlier in the week, and the Mavs indicated that they were willing to negotiate a buyout of his $33.3MM expiring contract if that’s want he wanted.
The Nuggets and Spurs were mentioned as teams that had interest in Middleton if he became available, and there would likely have been numerous other suitors. He would have been eligible to sign with anyone except the Cavaliers, Warriors and Knicks because they’re operating in apron territory and aren’t permitted to add a player waived during the season who had been earning more than the $14.1MM non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
There was “pessimism” in Denver this week that Middleton could be lured away from the Mavericks, according to Stein’s sources (Twitter link).
A buyout would have resulted in the loss of Middleton’s Bird rights, which transferred when he was acquired from Washington at the trade deadline. Although Middleton is almost certain to get a sharply reduced salary next season, having his Bird rights in place could help him land a contract above the veteran’s minimum.
With a small number of teams possessing cap space for the offseason, Middleton could have value in a potential sign-and-trade deal, suggests Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link).
Middleton, 34, has been productive with Dallas in his seven games since the deal, averaging 13.9 PPG with .485/.364/.893 shooting numbers. He’s made five starts and is logging 24 minutes per night.
Southwest Notes: Middleton, Mavs, Spurs, J. Smith
Prior to Friday’s loss vs. Memphis, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd confirmed that Khris Middleton is a buyout candidate ahead of Sunday’s deadline to be waived by one team and remain eligible to appear in the postseason for another club, per Ron Harrod Jr. of DLLS Mavs (Twitter video link).
“That’s up to Khris,” Kidd said. “We support whatever decision he makes if he’s going to stay or if he’s gonna get bought out. But I think he’s gotta make that decision here pretty quick.”
As reported by Marc Stein of The Stein Line, Middleton is evaluating whether to finish out his expiring contract with Dallas or to reach a buyout agreement to sign with a playoff team. The Nuggets and Spurs are said to be among the teams with interest in the 34-year-old small forward.
According to Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com, NBA personnel have been keeping close tabs on Middleton since he was traded to the Mavericks ahead of this month’s deadline. One scout likes what he’s seen of the 14-year veteran, while an anonymous executive said Middleton might be better off staying with Dallas — the three-time All-Star would forfeit his Bird rights if he agrees to a buyout.
“His numbers have been down quite a bit — and his efficiency never recovered with the Wizards,” the executive told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “He might be best off playing this season out in Dallas where they’re letting him play his game and build some momentum for himself going into free agency. He’s going to get minutes and touches in Dallas. That may not be consistent on a contender. He could join a contender in the summer. I understand the appeal of joining a contender now, though.”
That same front office employee told Afseth that Middleton could help the Mavericks, but it’s not a straightforward situation.
“When he’s in a rhythm, he’s going to help a team win games. That may hurt the Mavericks’ chances of maximizing draft position now,” the executive said. “But he’s a great locker room guy. He’s genuine about helping younger teammates. That’s a good veteran to have on your team. He’d be a piece that could help them when Kyrie Irving is healthy and ready to go next season. You want vets like [Middleton] around Cooper Flagg.”
Here’s more from the Southwest:
- During Thursday’s game vs. Sacramento, Mavericks CEO Rick Welts joined the team’s broadcast and said governor Patrick Dumont decided not to raise ticket prices for 2026/27 because the Mavs didn’t meet expectations, according to Christian Clark of The Athletic. “It was one of the strangest meetings I’ve been in in my 48 years in the league, where you sit down with the owner,” Welts said. “The staff has done two months of work to figure out where tickets might be underpriced. Patrick preempted the conversation before it got started and said, ‘Look, we didn’t deliver this year. We didn’t deliver on the team as expected. We’re not going to raise one ticket price this year.’ A popular decision. The right one as well.”
- Thursday’s win at Brooklyn marked the Spurs‘ 11th consecutive victory, writes Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News. The Spurs went undefeated in February, the third time the team has had an unblemished month. “It feels like the players are finding different ways to win,” head coach Mitch Johnson said. “That’s a sign of growth.” Jared Weiss of The Athletic takes a closer look at San Antonio’s undefeated month, writing that a variety of players contributed on a game-to-game basis. The Spurs have also found ways to win even when they aren’t playing their best. “Does (the undefeated month) mean it was perfect? Not at all,” Victor Wembanyama said. “But looking back, it’s never really perfect. So it’s pretty satisfying.”
- Fourth-year Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. was sidelined for Saturday’s game in Miami and will miss Monday’s game at Washington as well, per Varun Shankar of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Smith, who sprained his right ankle in Thursday’s comeback win in Orlando, is targeting next Thursday against Golden State for his return to the court, Shankar adds.
Mavericks Waive Tyus Jones
10:32 am: Jones has officially been waived, the team announced (via Twitter).
5:22 am: The Mavericks intend to waive point guard Tyus Jones, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Twitter link). Because the move will happen before the end of the day on Sunday, Jones will retain his playoff eligibility for his next team.
Jones, 29, is an 11th-year NBA veteran known for his ability to set up teammates and take care of the ball. He has career averages of 7.3 points, 4.3 assists, and just 0.8 turnovers in 20.7 minutes per game across 738 regular season appearances for Minnesota, Memphis, Washington, Phoenix, Orlando, and Dallas.
After four-year stints with both the Timberwolves and Grizzlies, Jones has bounced around the NBA in recent years, playing for four teams in the past three seasons. He opened this year with the Magic, having signed a one-year, $7MM deal with the team during the 2025 offseason, but had a disappointing year in Orlando, averaging just 3.1 PPG and 2.6 APG on .349/.281/.875 shooting in a bench role.
Jones was traded to the Hornets at the deadline in what was a salary-dump deal from the Magic’s perspective, allowing them to duck below the luxury tax line. Charlotte subsequently flipped him to the Mavericks in a separate trade.
At the time, reports indicated that Dallas had attempted to sign Jones last summer before ending up with D’Angelo Russell and that they’d be happy to have him on the roster for the rest of the season. However, it appears as if the guard prefers to try to catch on with a playoff team.
Waiving Jones will open up a spot on the Mavs’ 15-man roster, and Stein suggests there’s a strong chance that two-way guard Ryan Nembhard will be promoted to fill that opening. Nembhard, who can’t be active for more than 50 regular season games on his two-way contract, appeared in 33 consecutive contests from late November through early February and has been active for 44 in total, but has been on Dallas’ inactive list since Feb. 5.
If the Mavs were to convert Nembhard to a standard contract in the coming days, it would remove his games-played cap for the season and would allow the club to back-fill his two-way slot by the March 4 deadline for two-way signings.
Besides Jones, veteran forward Khris Middleton is another buyout candidate in Dallas. The team has reportedly left the decision up to him, with Denver said to be among his potential suitors.
Cooper Flagg (Foot Sprain) Likely Out At Least Two More Games
Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg continues to deal with a left midfoot sprain. Last year’s No. 1 overall pick missed his sixth consecutive game on Friday due to the injury and is expected to be sidelined for at least two more, writes Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal.
“Probably not that he will play,” head coach Jason Kidd replied when asked if Flagg would be active for Tuesday’s road game in Charlotte.
The Mavs host Oklahoma City on Sunday before embarking on a six-game road trip, which begins on Tuesday against the Hornets. Flagg’s primary competition for Rookie of the Year is Hornets wing Kon Knueppel, his former teammate and roommate at Duke.
As Afseth notes, Dallas initially thought Flagg would return to action immediately after the All-Star break, but that didn’t happen. The 19-year-old last played on February 10, when he sustained the injury, which was confirmed by an MRI.
There has been some speculation around the league that the Mavericks might shut Flagg down for the rest of the season to preserve his long-term health and improve their odds of landing a top draft pick, Afseth writes. The team hasn’t addressed that speculation publicly and Kidd hasn’t given any indication that Dallas is considering going that route, per Afseth.
Flagg has appeared in 49 games (34.1 MPG) this season for Dallas, averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals on .482/.302/.804 shooting splits.
Southwest Notes: J. Smith, Borrego, Marshall, Ingram
The Rockets pulled off a comeback victory in Orlando on Thursday night, their fourth win in five games since the All-Star break, but they lost forward Jabari Smith Jr. late in the game. Smith suffered an ankle injury with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter (NBA.com video link), though head coach Ime Udoka expressed optimism after the game that it wasn’t serious.
“He stepped on Alperen (Sengun)‘s foot and rolled his ankle,” Udoka said (Twitter video link via Space City Home Network). “I think it’s a game-to-game thing, day-to-day. It doesn’t look too terrible.”
Smith has been playing some of the best basketball of his NBA career in recent weeks and has started 57 of Houston’s 58 games this season, so if he has to miss some time, it would require the team to tweak its starting five and rely more on reserve wings and bigs like Josh Okogie, Clint Capela, and Dorian Finney-Smith.
Here’s more from around the Southwest:
- James Borrego hasn’t played it safe as the Pelicans‘ interim head coach since he took over for Willie Green, says Rod Walker of NOLA.com (subscription required). Walker praises Borrego for his willing to make bold lineup decisions, including starting rookie Derik Queen and bringing highly paid veteran Jordan Poole off the bench for most of the season. “There are no egos,” said Dejounte Murray, who has replaced Queen in the starting five in his first two games back from an Achilles tear. “Nobody is pouting. We have young guys who were starting. They went to the bench and took it like they should take it. I give a lot of credit to them for that. We are all here to win and longevity is the key for everybody.”
- Mavericks forward Naji Marshall showed on Thursday why the team had no interest in moving him at this month’s trade deadline. As Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal details, Marshall became just the third undrafted player since the 1983/84 season to record at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a game — he got to 36, 10, and six vs. Sacramento and was a +3 in 42 minutes in a game Dallas lost by nine points. “If healthy, I don’t know if he’s gonna play 42 minutes,” head coach Jason Kidd said, lauding Marshall for maintaining his compete level in an expanded role. “But shorthanded, he’s taken full advantage of his minutes. His ability to get into the paint and finish, get to the free throw line — he led the team in rebounds. He’s doing it all.”
- Spurs two-way player Harrison Ingram has only appeared in five games at the NBA level this season, but he’s thriving with the team’s G League affiliate in Austin. Ingram earned NBAGL Player of the Week honors after averaging 22.2 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists in five games last week (Twitter link).
Buyout Market Rumors: Anthony, Middleton, Ball, D-Lo, Boucher
Veteran guard Cole Anthony has remained in limbo since being acquired by the Suns at this month’s trade deadline, having continued to hold a spot on Phoenix’s 15-man roster despite being away from the team. Reporting prior to the All-Star break indicated Anthony would likely be waived, but that still hasn’t happened. According to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic, head coach Jordan Ott suggested on Thursday that the delay may be related to depth concerns in the Suns’ backcourt.
“It’s still the same,” Ott said of Anthony’s situation. “There hasn’t been much change, but we have had injuries and that’s kind of where it’s at. That’s why there hasn’t been much change, but that’s why it’s not completely out. We’ll continue to just stay in touch with his people and move this thing forward.”
Friday is the first of four days off for the Suns, and Devin Booker (hip strain) appears likely to return after that break, either on Tuesday in Sacramento or Thursday vs. Chicago, tweets John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7. If Phoenix is confident in where Booker’s at in his recovery, it’s possible we could see Anthony let go on or before Sunday, which is the final day a player can be waived and retain his playoff eligibility for a new team.
[UPDATE: Anthony has been waived.]
If Anthony is cut, it would open up a spot for the Suns to promote two-way player Jamaree Bouyea to the standard roster. The club could then back-fill Bouyea’s two-way slot before next Wednesday’s deadline for two-way signings.
Here are a few more rumors related to the NBA’s buyout market:
- In addition to Denver, the Spurs are among the teams with interest in Mavericks forward Khris Middleton, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Dallas has reportedly given Middleton the option of negotiating a buyout or sticking with the Mavs for the rest of the season — he figures to make that decision within the next 48 hours or so.
- Although the Warriors, Nuggets, and other teams has some interest in Lonzo Ball after he was waived earlier this month, concerns about the guard’s knee dissuaded those potential suitors from moving forward on a deal with the veteran point guard, Siegel reports, adding that nothing is imminent on that front.
- Although D’Angelo Russell wasn’t required to report to the Wizards after being included in the Anthony Davis trade and has been viewed as a potential buyout candidate, there has been little interest around the league in the point guard, per Siegel. Russell’s contract includes a $5.97MM player option for 2026/27 that Washington would probably want to eliminate – or at least significantly reduce – as part of any buyout agreement, whereas D-Lo presumably wouldn’t want to give up that guaranteed money without a favorable deal lined up elsewhere. According to Siegel, Russell could end up simply finishing the season with the Wizards.
- Many league personnel believe Chris Boucher would like to reunite with the Raptors after being waived by Utah earlier this month, but it’s unclear whether Toronto reciprocates that interest, says Siegel.
Nuggets Among Teams Interested In Mavs’ Khris Middleton
Veteran small forward Khris Middleton tells Marc Stein of The Stein Line he’s still evaluating his options ahead of Sunday’s deadline to be waived by one team and remain eligible to appear in the postseason for another club (Twitter links).
According to Stein, Middleton’s is considering whether he wants to stay with the Mavericks for the rest of the season or reach a buyout agreement with Dallas in order to sign with a playoff team. The Nuggets are among the teams with interest in the 34-year-old, league sources tell Stein.
Middleton stressed to Stein that he’s “grateful for the warm welcome he’s received in Dallas.” As Stein reported on Tuesday, the Mavs have essentially left the buyout decision up to Middleton and his camp and would happily retain him for the remainder of the season if he opts to go that route.
Bennett Durando of The Denver Post confirms (via Twitter) that the Nuggets are intrigued by Middleton, adding that Denver also showed interest in Kyle Anderson, who will sign with the Timberwolves after a buyout with Memphis. The Nuggets are searching for size on the wing and ball-handling, Durando reports.
Middleton, who has dealt with injuries in recent years, is no longer the same player who earned All-Star berths three times in four years from 2019-22, but he has performed pretty well since he arrived in Dallas in the Anthony Davis trade. In 39 total games this season, Middleton has averaged 10.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 24.2 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .441/.336/.851.
In the event of a buyout, Middleton would be ineligible to sign with Cleveland, Golden State, or New York, since clubs operating over either tax apron aren’t permitted to sign a player waived during the season who had been earning more than the non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($14.1MM). Middleton’s $33.3MM expiring salary far exceeds that figure.
It’s also worth noting that Middleton would forfeit his Bird rights if he agrees to a buyout. While he’ll certainly have to take a pay cut this summer either way, retaining those Bird rights would likely put him in a better position to avoid settling for the veteran’s minimum or something close to it.