The Dallas Mavericks, or at least the summer version of them, are just about set to head to Las Vegas for the beginning of the NBA 2K26 Las Vegas Summer League. The summer Mavs will be playing in most of the marquee times, as Cooper Flagg will get the traditional ‘number one pick of theNBA Draft’ treatment. However, this roster is very interesting beyond him, as there are multiple guys who could make an NBA roster.
Therefore, a committee of ball knowers and basketball purists have power ranked the roster based on a series of factors that can be described as the V.A.L.U.E. system.
Vibes (all encompassing - lots of directions the committee could go here)
Anomaly (i.e. gimmicky, quirky, not necessarily a skill-based thing)
Likelihood of making a roster (not necessarily the Mavs roster)
Usefulness (actual basketball skill)
Excitement to see
The committee has graded each player in each category on a scale of 1-10, and that score will be how they are ranked and tiered. To the results!
Note: The Committee’s full scoring results are kept confidential to avoid the virus known as “group think”.
Tier 6: Incredibly anonymous players
Yale v Auburn Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images
16. Jaylin Williams (F, Auburn)
V.A.L.U.E. rating: 16
The committee understands this is a bit disrespectful to Mr. Williams, who is surely a nice player and person. However, his similar name to OKC’s Jaylin Williams, who is the most annoying basketball player on the planet, tanked his vibes score to the worst in class, one.
15. Jordan Hall (F, St. Joe’s)
V.A.L.U.E. rating: 18
Hall is one of only two players on the team with any NBA experience, as he played nine games for the San Antonio Spurs two years ago.
T-13. Aliou Diarra (C, APR)
V.A.L.U.E. rating: 20
Diarra is just 6’9” and 192 pounds, but he has the potential to be a fun small-ball style center if he sees the floor.
T-13. Matthew Cleveland (G-F, Miami)
V.A.L.U.E. rating: 20
Mr. Cleveland is not playing for Cleveland, which is a considerable downgrade to his vibes score. But for him, much like the others in this tier, there’s just not much to really go off of.
Tier 5: Redeeming qualities
McNeese v Gonzaga Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
12. Nolan Hickman (G, Gonzaga)
V.A.L.U.E. rating: 23
Hickman spent the last few years playing next to Ryan Nembhard at Gonzaga, meaning there could be some fun synergy with them sharing the floor. That earned him a boost to his excitement rating.
T-10. Matt Cross (F, SMU)
V.A.L.U.E. rating: 24
Hey, look! A local guy! Cross is an SMU product, which earned him some vibes points. And while the team is so chalked full of wings that it’s likely impossible for him to make the varsity squad, perhaps a Legends stint could be in the cards.
T-10. Gabe McGlothan (F, Grand Canyon)
V.A.L.U.E. rating: 24
The Lopes have made it to summer league! McGlothan earns anomaly points by being the oldest player on the team, as the 26-year-old is a full seven years older than Cooper Flagg.
Tier 4: Complete wildcards
Michigan v Texas A&M Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
T-8. Melvin Ajinca (F, AVSEL/France)
V.A.L.U.E. rating: 25
After debuting in Vegas during last year’s summer league, what does the Frenchman have in store as an encore? The Mavs brought him back for a reason, meaning he gets a nice boost to his excitement score.
T-8. Moussa Cisse (C, Memphis)
V.A.L.U.E. rating: 25
Cisse was brought to Memphis by Penny Hardaway to be a James Wiseman clone. Fortunately for him, he played far more games than Wiseman did. Unfortunately for Cisse, he was not quite as good as Wiseman was. However, the skillset does leave the committee intrigued.
7. Obinna Anochili-Killen (F, Marshall)
V.A.L.U.E. rating: 27
O.A.K. earned a nice V.A.L.U.E. score here due to a tip from MMB’s own David Sanchez, who pointed out the forward’s production at Marshall. The committee, therefore, is very excited to see him in Vegas.
6. Zhuric Phelps (G, Texas A&M)
V.A.L.U.E. rating: 28
The committee gave Phelps high marks in the excitement category, as they will be watching these games next to an Aggie in Vegas therefore fearing potential retaliation. However, Phelps is a nice player that always leaves you wanting more as you watch. We shall see if more arrives while in Sin City.
Tier 3: The gimmickiest player to ever play in Summer League
Texas Legends v Valley Suns Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images
5. Jamarion Sharp (C, Ole Miss)
V.A.L.U.E. rating: 30
Who doesn’t want to see the 7’5” guy go swat shots into the 6th row for two hours? Sharp likely won’t ever be an NBA player, but Vegas Summer League is what players like this were made for. The committee eagerly awaits watching Sharp, who earned top marks in both the anomaly and excitement categories.
Tier 2: Go show us something
Florida v Auburn Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
T-3. Maxwell Lewis (G, Pepperdine)
V.A.L.U.E. rating: 32
Lewis is perhaps the most likely guy (outside of Flagg) who could make an NBA roster, earning him top marks in that category. Maxwell spent time with the Los Angeles Lakers, however, which earned him a slight downgrade in the vibes department. However, any downgrade there was balanced out by the fact that the committee will also be spending time with a Pepperdine alum in Vegas, therefore also bumping Lewis up to avoid retaliation.
T-3. Miles Kelly (G, Auburn)
V.A.L.U.E. rating: 32
Kelly leaves Auburn to join the Mavs on a two-way deal. He might have some staying power if he can shoot it as well in the NBA as he did in his last year at Auburn. Color the committee interested!
2. Ryan Nembhard (G, Gonzaga)
V.A.L.U.E. rating: 39
If you’ve read the site anytime over the last month, we’ve been banging the drum loudly and proudly for Mr. Nembhard. Did you expect anything else from the committee?
Tier 1: Top 75 player in the NBA already
Houston v Duke Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images
1. Cooper Flagg (F, Duke)
V.A.L.U.E. rating: 47
Well, duh.