D-Ham making it juicy

Darvin Ham, 34, is in camp trying to earn a spot on a team with the maximum 15 guaranteed contracts. The eight-year vet out of Texas Tech is making a strong case to stick.

“He’s found the fountain of youth,” Avery Johnson said. “He’s jumping, he knows where to go, he knows how to play the pick-and-roll defenses, he’s got tons of energy, he’s running the court really good, he’s banging. He’s looking pretty good.

“He’s going to make it tough on us.”

Johnson appreciates Ham’s experience, which includes a championship ring from his stint in Detroit, and work ethic. Ham spent much of the summer playing in pickup games on the Mavs practice court, which sits below the window of Johnson’s office.

He’s no stranger to team, having served as a studio analyst for Mavs games on Fox Sports Southwest. Asked if Ham would give up his TV gig for return to the league, Johnson quipped: “I’m sure he would.”