The Mavericks didn’t exercise Zaccharie Risacher’s $17.4MM rookie scale option for 2027/28 at the same time they picked up Cooper Flagg’s earlier this month, but the team still has until Monday to do so. And, as Christian Clark of The Athletic writes, the former No. 1 overall pick is doing his best to convince the club that option should be exercised.

While Risacher has struggled with his shot through four games, converting just 30.8% of his attempts from the floor and 17.6% from beyond the three-point line, he’s tied for second in the NBA with 16 “stocks” (steals plus blocks). He has racked up eight steals and eight blocks so far this season.

“Zac is finding himself now,” head coach Dusty May said. “He’s still so young. We really, really value and appreciate those plays. However many missed shots he had, he had twice as many loose balls and blocks and steals and rebounds.”

If the Mavs do decide to pick up Risacher’s option, his ’27/28 salary would become fully guaranteed and he would become eligible for a rookie scale extension during the 2027 offseason. If not, he’d reach unrestricted free agency next summer.

We have more from around the Southwest:

• Rockets center Alperen Sengun is expected to miss a little time as a result of a back issue, head coach Ime Udoka said on Wednesday during an appearance on SportsTalk 790 in Houston. Sengun had already been ruled out for Wednesday’s contest in Milwaukee due to low back soreness, but Udoka suggested the big man could be facing a multi-game absence after his back tightened up during Monday’s game. “After (Monday’s) game, got a little imaging done and saw a mild strain,” Udoka said. “… Hopefully it’s short-term, a few games at most. Looking forward to having him back quickly.”
• Former NBA big man Omer Yurtseven didn’t sign a training camp contract with any team this summer or fall, but he’s taking part in training camp with the Rockets’ G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Eurohoops notes. Yurtseven holds four years of NBA experience and has made 122 regular season appearances, including nine with Golden State last season.
• After the Grizzlies used their full room exception to sign guard Ty Jerome during the 2025 free agent period, he was limited to just 15 outings in 2025/26, largely due to a calf injury. But Jerome played well in those 15 games and is off to a red-hot start this fall, averaging 29.8 points and 6.3 assists per game for a 4-0 Memphis squad and earning Player of the Week honors. According to head coach Tuomas Iisalo (Twitter video link via Michael Wallace of Grind City Media), Jerome’s performance so far this season is a testament to the work he put in during the offseason and preseason. “The shape he showed up to camp in,” Iisalo said. “He has put a hell of a lot of hard work in last spring and this summer. … He’s put himself in a great situation. The confidence he’s playing with is incredible.”