Mavericks’ Matt Cross signing just made their wing competition even more interesting

The Dallas Mavericks signed 6-foot-7 forward Matt Cross on Tuesday, bringing their preseason roster to 21 players. The signing intensifies competition for the team's two-way contract slots ahead of their final preseason games against the New Orleans Pelicans and Atlanta Hawks. Dallas currently has its three two-way spots occupied by John Poulakidas, Jett Howard, and Tobi Lawal, while Cross and Seth Lundy remain eligible options for those positions.

The Smoking Cuban's Noah Weber argues that Cross offers unique rebounding, defensive awareness, and energy compared to the team's other wing contenders. Cross previously averaged 6.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for the Texas Legends while shooting 41.4 percent from three-point range. While his regular-season roster spot remains unconfirmed, strong preseason performances could potentially earn the 25-year-old his first NBA regular-season roster role.