The comparison to Derrick Jones Jr. makes immediate sense. Tobi Lawal has the kind of energy, length and athletic burst that can swing a game, and the Mavericks are clearly betting that those tools can develop into real NBA value.
That idea matters even more because Dallas is leaning into youth and development under new head coach Dusty May. Lawal was selected 48th overall this summer, and by the time the 2026-27 season arrives he will be on a two-way contract after two seasons at Virginia Tech.
Jones was one of the Mavericks' impactful players during the 2024 Finals run, and that is the level of reference point being used here. Lawal is two inches taller at 6'8, six years younger, and brings a maximum vertical of 45.5 inches. For a team looking for disruptive athletes who can defend, run and finish with force, that profile has obvious appeal.
Why the Derrick Jones Jr. comparison fits
This is not about saying Lawal is already the same player. It is about style. The Mavericks Moneyball view is that Lawal shares Jones' ability to impact the game with activity, defense and athleticism, even if the younger forward is still early in his development.
There is a reason that kind of player matters in the NBA. Energy wings who can guard multiple spots and play above the rim often find minutes if the rest of the package comes together. Lawal gives Dallas that foundation, and the physical tools are difficult to ignore.
What Lawal still has to improve
The next step is clear enough. Lawal needs to sharpen the parts of the game that make him easier to play against: shooting and ball-handling. Those are the areas that will determine whether his athletic gifts translate into steady NBA minutes.
The college numbers show a player who could help in other ways already. He averaged 12.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game, shot 54.2% from the field, posted six double-doubles in 23 games, and also hit 25% from three while shooting 76.3% from the free-throw line. That is a useful base for a young frontcourt player, but not yet a finished offensive package.
Dallas is not asking for perfection right away. It is asking for upside, patience and a willingness to develop. Lawal has the tools to justify that approach, and the Derrick Jones Jr. comparison explains why the Mavericks believe he can eventually become more than just an athletic projection.
