The Dallas Mavericks have signed guards Ryan Nembhard and Miles Kelly to Two-Way contracts. Nembhard and Kelly are two undrafted prospects who were able to sign two-way contracts, adding depth and long-term upside even if immediate impact is unlikely on a deep roster.
Nembhard finished his college career at Gonzaga, where he was named to the West Coast Conference’s First Team in each of his two seasons with the Bulldogs (2024, 2025). He led the nation in assists per game (9.8) and total assists (344) in 2024-25, breaking his own program record for the most assists in a single season (243 in 2023-24).
Nembhard began his college career at Creighton, where he was named the Big East Freshman of the Year in 2021. As a sophomore, he helped guide the Bluejays to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight, before transferring to Gonzaga the following year.
Nembhard’s size likely played a role in his draft stock, as teams often hesitate to invest in smaller guards without elite athleticism or defensive upside. However, his playmaking and ability to run an offense gives him real value as a developmental prospect.
Kelly ended his college career at Auburn, where he averaged 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 38 games (36 starts) for the Tigers on their run to the 2025 NCAA Tournament Final Four. Prior to transferring to Auburn, Kelly played his first three college seasons at Georgia Tech from 2021-22 to 2023-24.
Kelly has size and solid scoring ability by driving to the basket and improved from the three-point range. While he’s a strong rebounder, he needs to improve his decision-making, passing, and consistency as a shooter to succeed at the next level.
While two-way players like Nembhard and Kelly aren’t expected to contribute meaningful minutes on a deep and veteran-heavy Mavericks team, they give Dallas a pair of intriguing prospects to develop within the organization and evaluate over time.
