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Mavericks Waive Tyler Smith After Summer League Drama
21 Jul
Summary
- Tyler Smith was waived by the Mavericks from his two-way contract.
- Smith's dismissal followed a late arrival to a film session.
- The Mavericks have an open two-way contract spot to fill.
The Dallas Mavericks recently concluded their 2026 NBA Summer League with a respectable 3-2 record. However, a significant development was the absence and subsequent waiving of Tyler Smith from his two-way contract. Smith, initially projected to be a rotation player, underperformed and displayed disinterest in the final game.
Reports revealed Smith's tardiness to a film session in Las Vegas led to a loss of confidence from the Mavericks' staff. Consequently, Smith was waived, creating an opening on the roster. This marks another setback for Smith, a former 33rd overall NBA Draft pick who has previously been waived by the Milwaukee Bucks and had brief stints with the Houston Rockets.
The Mavericks now face a decision on how to fill the vacant two-way contract spot. Promising Summer League performer Vsevolod Ishchenko is a potential candidate, though the team might opt to explore European competition for him first. Alternatively, Dallas could use the spot to bolster their shallow backcourt or keep it open to observe potential waiver claims.
