NBA trade update: Dallas Mavericks reward surprise rookie Ryan Nembhard with new two-year deal after strong start

The Dallas Mavericks have recently offered rookie Ryan Nembhard a two-year contract after his impressive start to the season. In order to complete the promotion for Nembhard, the team has waived veteran Tyus Jones.

As a senior at Gonzaga, Nembhard topped the country in assists the previous season. In July, the Mavericks signed him to a two-way contract because they appreciated his ability to make wise decisions. Nembhard's contract has a team option with the Mavericks for 2026–2027, which will give the Dallas front office options while they try to improve the team's backcourt.

Ryan Nembhard earns standard contract as Dallas Mavericks reward breakout two-way performance

With a 21-18 record and the 12th-best record in the West, the Dallas Mavericks reportedly don't have many encouraging things to look forward to from the 2025–26 season.

The unanticipated appearance of their guard Ryan Nembhard is undoubtedly what they can rely on.Nembhard earned a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks as an undrafted free agent, and this season he flourished with the Texas-based team. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Mavericks agreed to a two-year contract with the talented guard in order to retain him.

Charania wrote on X:“The Dallas Mavericks are signing two-way guard Ryan Nembhard to a new two-year contract, Todd Ramasar and Jaafar Choufani of Life Sports Agency tell ESPN. Nembhard brought a spark on his two-way deal, averaging 9.9 points, 6.1 assists and 44.4% 3-point shooting in 17 starts…”Additionally, according to Charania, the organization waived veteran Tyus Jones before formally signing him to a conventional contract.

The Mavericks now have 15 standard contracts on their roster after signing Nembhard. They have a young guard in Nembhard who has the potential to contribute to the team's future. He had almost run out of days of eligibility, and his two-way deal limited the number of NBA games he could play.

Ryan Nembhard steps up in bigger role for Dallas Mavericks

Nembhard, the younger brother of player Andrew Nembhard of the Indiana Pacers, has played in 38 games so far this season. He averages 1.4 turnovers, 6.7 points, and 4.9 assists per game.He also averaged 9.9 points, 6.1 assists, and 44.4% 3-point shooting in the 17 games he started. With a shooting percentage of 42.9 percent from the field, 37.9 percent from the 3-point line, and 76.9 percent from the free-throw line, he had been averaging 6.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists.Additionally, he has started 17 games this season, including a victory over the Denver Nuggets on December 1 in which he scored a career-high 28 points. Nembhard has only scored in double figures once since Christmas.