Mavericks sign intriguing big man amid key injuries

The Dallas Mavericks‘ The 2024-25 season was hampered by injuries and the head coach Jason Kidd recently gave a candid answer about the team’s injury woes. In response to the Mavericks’ growing number of injuries, the team announced that they did made a move in the list in the form of a two-way contract.

The Mavericks announced that they have signed Kylor Kelly from the G League to a two-way contract, and in conjunction with the move, waived Jazian Gortman to clear cap space. Kelly joins Brandon Williams and Kessler Edwards as three Mavericks contract players.

The team’s frontcourt has taken a hit in recent weeks with multiple injuries. Derek Lively II is currently sidelined with an ankle injuryand during the Mavericks’ loss to the Boston Celtics on Saturday, backup center Maxi Kleber left the game early with what was later diagnosed as a foot injury.

After making it to the NBA Finals last season after trading PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford, the Mavericks have struggled this season. They are currently 24-22 and in 11th place in the Western Conference standings.

The addition of Kylor Kelly to the Mavericks

Kelly joins the Mavericks after spending the start of this season with the South Bay Lakers of the G League. Under the two-way contract, he will be limited to just 50 NBA games and will not be eligible for the playoffs unless his contract is converted to a standard contract. Being on the active roster but not playing still counts towards the 50 game maximum.

Kelly’s first NBA experience came after the 2019-2020 season. After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft, he signed a No. 10 contract with the San Antonio Spurs. He recently attended training camp with the Los Angeles Lakers.

During the regular portion of the G League schedule, Kelly appeared in nine games for South Bay, logging just over 24 minutes per game. He averaged 9.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 blocks while shooting 64.5 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from the three-point line.

Kelly is a big man who is active around the basket on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. He is a seven-footer who plays with a lot of energy and has yet to get an opportunity in the NBA. Given the injuries to the Mavericks’ frontcourt, it’s possible he’ll slot into the rotation from the get-go.