Mavericks to sign Melvin Ely, Chris Douglas-Roberts

The Dallas Mavericks signed shooting guard Chris Douglas-Roberts and forward Melvin Ely to non-tender deals Thursday, according to ESPN Dallas. The players join the team on the eve of Monday's NBA roster deadline, when teams have to cut their rosters to 15 players. Douglas-Roberts and Ely give Dallas 18 players on their roster.

Chris Douglas-Roberts played four games with the Los Angeles Lakers this preseason, averaging four points per game before being cut Monday. Douglas-Roberts is in his third season out of Memphis. He played in 44 games for the Milwaukee Bucks last season, making 12 starts and averaging 7.3 points and two rebounds per game.

Melvin Ely last played with the Denver Nuggets during the 2010-11 season, averaging 2.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in 30 appearances. Ely entered the league in 2002 after being drafted 12th overall by the Clippers. He played college basketball at Fresno State.

It is expected that Douglas-Roberts and Ely will compete with Eddy Curry, who the team claimed off waivers Thursday, for the final roster spot. It is widely expected that Delonte West will be cut to reduce the Mavericks' roster to 17 players, but that two of the three players signed today will have to be waived to meet Monday's 15-player roster limit.