Avery Johnson believes it's DaSagana Diop's turn to cash in. And the Mavericks hope to benefit from this opportunity for the 7-foot center.

"Gana has positioned himself really nicely," Johnson says. "Obviously, it's his option year, he's still relatively young and it's a great opportunity for him.

"It's kind of like building a brand in business. He's been in obscurity for a while, but now's his chance."

That's why Diop is in Las Vegas with the Mavericks' summer-league team, which plays No. 1 overall draft pick Greg Oden and the Portland Trail Blazers at 3 p.m. today. It's almost unheard of for a player entering his seventh season ? seventh! ? to be at summer league. Incoming players are required to put in only two summers.

But Diop knows exactly what is at stake this summer and next season.