Sometimes in the NBA, teams have to make tough decisions on players at the end of their bench when opportunities come along. For the Dallas Mavericks, acquiring a superstar like Kristaps Porzingis, and role players Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee, and potentially taking the next steps in competing again meant making a tough decision on coveted roster spots. That meant making the move to release rookie forward, and former Louisville star, Ray Spalding.
Releasing Spalding, who had only appeared in one game for the Mavericks, was a tough call after the team traded for him during the 2019 NBA Draft, due to his potential at 21 years old.