The Undrafted Revolution: Ryan Nembhard’s Emergence Forces Mavericks to Cut Ties with $3.3M Vet

The Undrafted Revolution: Ryan Nembhard’s Emergence Forces Mavericks to Cut Ties with $3.3M Vet

The Dallas Mavericks, struggling through an early season defined by the absence of an injured Kyrie Irving and the development of No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, have unexpectedly unearthed a gold mine in undrafted rookie Ryan Nembhard. Nembhard, a Gonzaga product initially signed to a two-way contract, has not just played well—he has, in the eyes of many, solved the team’s chronic point guard problem, forcing the front office to pitch the uncomfortable but necessary move of releasing veteran guard Danté Exum to make room for him on the standard 15-man roster.

The veteran guard, whose 2025-2026 salary is reported to be $3,303,774, is currently sidelined for the season after needing a second knee surgery. This makes him the logical, if unfortunate, candidate to be waived, allowing the Mavericks to convert Nembhard’s two-way deal to a guaranteed standard contract and secure their unexpected floor general before his 50-game two-way limit expires.

The Nembhard Effect: A Point God Emerges

The Mavericks’ early season was a revolving door at point guard. Coach Jason Kidd experimented with starting Flagg at the one, then pivoted to D’Angelo Russell, and later Brandon Williams. None provided the stability and pure playmaking needed to unlock the potential of the roster, particularly Anthony Davis.

Enter Ryan Nembhard. After just a handful of games, the 5-foot-11 guard has become the engine of the offense.

A Historic Stretch

Nembhard’s recent stretch of play is not just good for an undrafted rookie; it is historically efficient:

• Record-Breaking Performance: He became the first undrafted rookie in the modern draft era (since 1967) to record at least 25 points, 10 assists, and zero turnovers in a game (against the Denver Nuggets). This benchmark was last reached by a rookie of any status by Stephon Marbury in 1996.

• Elite Efficiency: In the games since earning the starting role, Nembhard has averaged approximately 17.0 points and 7.5 assists, with shooting percentages hovering in the mid-60s from the field, showcasing a maturity and composure that belies his rookie status.

• The Flagg/Davis Catalyst: Crucially, Nembhard has been the key to unlocking the team’s stars. His unselfish, pass-first mentality makes life easier for Anthony Davis in the pick-and-roll, and his ability to quickly distribute the ball has smoothed the transition for Cooper Flagg, who has been far more effective as a wing scorer than as a primary ball-handler.

As Anthony Davis himself stated, “I don’t know if he’s gonna be a two-way too much longer… All the guys love playing with him. He makes the right plays.”

The Roster Crunch: Exum as the Logical Sacrifice

The problem is a simple matter of logistics and NBA salary cap rules. Nembhard is currently on one of the team’s three two-way contracts. To secure him permanently and enable him to play beyond his 50-game limit (which will be reached around late February), the Mavericks must convert his contract to a standard NBA deal.

However, the Mavericks are currently hard-capped at the second apron, meaning they cannot simply add a 16th player. They must cut a player from the 15-man roster to make room.

Danté Exum’s Situation

The most likely candidate for the axe, according to league and team analysts, is Danté Exum.

• Injury Status: Exum is confirmed to be out for the entire 2025-2026 season after undergoing a second surgery on his right knee. While he has been a valuable rotational piece for the franchise in the past, a roster spot dedicated to a player who provides zero on-court value for the entire year is a luxury a hard-capped, rebuilding team cannot afford.

• Financials: Waiving Exum’s $3.3 million salary, while painful for the player, is the most direct path to creating the necessary roster slot. The Mavericks, being hard-capped, need every ounce of flexibility.

• Positional Redundancy: Exum is a point guard, the exact position Nembhard has now stabilized. Cutting the injured veteran at the same position for the emerging star is a clear statement of priorities, favoring the future over a sidelined past contributor.

The earliest the Mavericks can execute this move is early January, when the transaction window opens up, giving them a narrow window before Nembhard’s game limit becomes a critical issue.

The Long-Term Impact: Building the Future Floor

The conversion of Ryan Nembhard’s contract is much more than a bookkeeping measure; it is a foundational move for the post-Luka era in Dallas.

• Solidifying the Flagg-Nembhard Partnership: Pairing Flagg, a generational talent with a versatile skill set, with a traditional, high-IQ floor general like Nembhard accelerates Flagg’s development. Nembhard’s ability to create space, find cutters, and handle primary ball-handling duties frees Flagg to focus on what he does best: scoring, defending, and impacting the game from the wing. This duo gives Dallas a backcourt (when Kyrie Irving eventually returns) and wing presence that can grow together.

• Mitigating Kyrie’s Absence: With Kyrie Irving out, the team desperately needed a competent initiator. Nembhard’s emergence means the team is not simply treading water; they are actively improving and developing a key piece for the future, maintaining competitive integrity while Irving recovers.

• Finding Value in the Margins: The discovery of Nembhard (alongside other undrafted finds like Moussa Cisse) is a massive victory for the Mavericks’ scouting and development team. In an NBA where every dollar counts, finding a starting-caliber point guard for the price of an undrafted two-way contract is a major competitive advantage, allowing the front office to dedicate future cap space and trade assets to acquiring high-level wing talent and big man depth.

The veteran Exum has been a professional and reliable contributor, but his absence, combined with Nembhard’s surprising brilliance, has created a rare and timely opportunity for Dallas. Waiving the injured veteran is the cold, calculated business decision required to capitalize on the hot hand of their undrafted rookie savior.