Dallas Mavericks signed forward Tobi Lawal to a Two-Way Contract

The Mavericks' one-year, $560K two-way deal with Tobi Lawal earns a B- Contract Value Index (CVI), a fair transaction that reflects realistic expectations for a second-round prospect in year one. Two-way contracts are inherently low-risk salary structures—Lawal's $560K annual commitment barely registers against the cap, and the flexibility to move him between the NBA roster and G League affiliate means Dallas isn't locked into playing time or development guarantees that could sour quickly. At his career stage as a newly drafted forward without meaningful NBA production history, paying a modest, performance-contingent salary is the only sensible framework; overpaying a teenage prospect with upside is the real trap. The CVI reflects the soundness of the structure rather than a steal, because two-way signings are inherently low-ceiling deals for contending rosters—he'll eat minimal salary and probably see sparse minutes while the Mavericks continue their rebuild after a 26-56 season. Dallas has correctly avoided long-term commitment while preserving optionality, the hallmark of smart roster construction in an offseason phase where every dollar and roster spot matters.