The Mavericks have signed free agent wing Jett Howard to a two-way contract, the team announced in a press release.

Dallas opened up a two-way spot on Monday by waiving forward Tyler Smith.

Howard, a 6’8″ guard/forward, spent his first three seasons with the Magic, the team drafted him 11th overall in 2023. Orlando declined its fourth-year option on Howard last fall, which put him on track for unrestricted free agency in 2026.

The reason the Magic didn’t exercise that option is because Howard averaged 3.8 points and 1.0 rebound in 9.8 minutes per game in 78 combined appearances over his first two seasons, with a shooting line of .370/.294/.667.

The 22-year-old was a little more productive — and far more efficient — in 2025/26, averaging 5.5 PPG and 1.6 RPG on .418/.372/.949 shooting. But he wasn’t a consistent part of the rotation, averaging just 12.6 MPG in 55 games.

Howard played one year of college basketball at Michigan under his father, then-head coach Juwan Howard. The elder Howard had two stints with the Mavs during his long playing career, notes Marc Stein of The Stein Line (via Twitter).

Jett Howard’s two-way contract will pay him $678,882 in 2026/27, half of the rookie minimum. He’s eligible to be active in up to 50 of Dallas’ 82 regular season games and won’t be eligible for the postseason (assuming the Mavericks make it) unless he’s converted to a standard deal at some point.