Mavericks add WSU grad Low to summer squad

By Eddie Sefko | The Dallas Morning News • Published June 27, 2008

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DALLAS — The trend started Thursday in the NBA draft.

On Friday, it continued.

"Shooting," Donnie Nelson said, "is the operative skill."

The Mavericks put the meat of their summer-league team together Friday and it’s packed with shooters. One of them is Shan Foster, who they took with the 51st pick Thursday.

Joining him is a collection of deadeyes — some rookies and some who have solid NBA experience.

The harsh reality is that it will be tough for any of these players to be major contributors to next season’s Mavericks. That’s why they are going through the summer- league ritual.

But if the Mavericks get just one or two who can help fill out a thin roster, they will have done their job.

The Mavericks reeled in two more candidates Friday when they agreed to bring in 15 players for the summer squad.

Respected shooters Derrick Low from Washington State and Richie Frahm, who has bounced around the NBA for four seasons, will be on the team.

Frahm apparently lit it up from the perimeter in an informal workout with other Mavericks last week. Since Frahm, a career 35.6 percent 3-point shooter, was not with any NBA team at the end of last season, he can join the Mavericks before the free-agent period opens July 1.

Low went undrafted Thursday, although some scouts thought he would go in the second round.

The 6-2 guard played four years for Washington State. The Honolulu native shot 38.5 percent from 3-point range and averaged 14.1 points as a senior for a team that went 26-9.

Meanwhile, one of last year’s second-round picks, Renaldas Seibutis arrived Thursday in Dallas and went through his first workouts for the team. He’s set to join the summer-league squad that will play in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City in July, as is Reyshawn Terry, the other second rounder from 2007.

Others on the team: Keith McLeod, who has played with four NBA teams; former Kansas player Aaron Miles; JaJuan Smith of Tennessee; Reggie Williams of Virginia Military; Yaroslev Korolev, who played briefly with the LA Clippers for two seasons; Charles Rhodes of Mississippi State; and James Singleton, who also had two years with the Clippers.

Also set to join are Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Pape Sow, Marcus Slaughter and Charles Rhodes.

The free-agent season opens Tuesday. The Mavericks are expected to be extremely active in talks with available talent.

Also, Eddie Jones must exercise his player option for next season before Tuesday.

The Mavericks expect him to do so, meaning he will be on the roster at about $1.9 million.