Mavs Roster Moves: Convert A.J. Lawson From Two-Way Contract or Pursue Buyout Signing?

Among the trio of three-way players, Lawson has seen the most playing time for the Mavs when they have been embattled with injuries. He has appeared in 27 games and in the four instances he played more than 18 minutes, Lawson has averaged 12.8 points. The South Carolina product's best performance in Dallas came on Dec. 23 when he scored 17 points in 30 minutes against the San Antonio Spurs. 

If Dallas decides to stay in-house, converting Lawson's contract appears to be the path it would take. Adding Lawson to the main roster on a long-term and team-friendly contract at 23 years old would be a low-risk, potentially high-reward move. Lawson has shown potential, and there’s a chance he could carve out a role with the Mavs in the future.

Should the Mavs opt for a more proven player with playoff experience, someone like Marcus Morris Sr. would fit the bill. He began the season with the Los Angeles Clippers before getting traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, then the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs at the trade deadline. Morris Sr. is expected to be bought out by San Antonio. 

The signing of Morris Sr. would also reunite him with his twin brother, Markieff Morris, in Dallas. The Minnesota Timberwolves are also expected to show interest in Morris if he's bought out. The veteran forward has averged 6.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game and is shooting 40 percent from 3 through 37 games this season. 

Morris’ playoff experience, most notably with the Clippers, can make him an intriguing option for Dallas, though he and Luka Doncic may or may not need to hash some things out after their back-and-forth throughout the 2020 playoff series in the bubble.