The Mavericks are promoting two-way guard Ryan Nembhard to a two-year standard contract, his representatives Todd Ramasar and Jaafar Choufani of Life Sports Agency told ESPN’s Shams Charania (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 Feb. 5 as he approached the 50-game limit for two-way players. Nembhard 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. The Mavericks now have an open two-way slot and can fill it 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.”