The Dallas Mavericks have re-signed veteran forward/center Dwight Powell to a one-year deal worth $3.8 million, with $1 million partially guaranteed and an additional $500,000 guaranteed if he makes the opening-night roster, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
Dallas Mavericks Re-Sign Dwight Powell Amid Roster Construction Challenges
Powell’s Contract Terms and Roster Implications
Powell’s deal includes incentives tied to his presence on the opening-night roster. However, with the team already at the maximum roster size, general manager Mike Schmitz must find a way to create a spot. According to Stein, the Mavericks informed Powell they will make a “true effort” to find a way to keep him on the roster for this season, although the team’s options are limited.
Potential Cuts and Trade Candidates
Stein identified Tarik Biberovic, Marcus Sasser, and Moussa Cisse as the three “most sheddable salaries”. Biberovic, acquired via draft rights and signed to a two-year, $6 million deal that has a team option on the second year. Sasser, a salary-dump acquisition from the Pistons, offers depth at point guard, a position currently manned by Kyrie Irving and rookie Sergio De Larrea. Cisse, on a mostly non-guaranteed contract, was retained after the Mavericks matched the offer sheet he signed with the New York Knicks, signaling confidence in his potential.
The Caleb Martin Conundrum
Caleb Martin still has two years and $19.3 million remaining on his contract. The Mavericks acquired him in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, and a 2030 second-round pick was also part of the outcome, which has already been traded again. Martin’s performance since joining Dallas has been questioned, with critics noting his elite defense he displayed with the Miami Heat was mostly gone and his three-point shot looks painful. While trading him would require attaching draft capital to it, which is something the Mavericks don’t really have, waiving him would be a lot of dead money on the books since his contract is fully guaranteed. Nevertheless, if the Mavericks are focusing specifically on the quality of the roster, Caleb Martin is the one who has to go.
Roster Strategy and Future Moves
The Mavericks’ approach to roster management reflects their situation. Powell’s return provides continuity, but the team’s decision to retain him requires them to waive or trade someone to make that opening for Powell. Schmitz’s trust in his overseas scouting, particularly with Biberovic, suggests a direction. However, the lack of draft capital complicates trade options, leaving the Mavericks in a position as training camp approaches.
Mavericks sign Biberovic to two year deal
After obtaining Biberovic’s draft rights this offseason, the Mavericks persuaded him to move from Europe to the NBA with a two-year, $6 million contract that includes a team option for the second year.
Why did the Mavericks re-sign Dwight Powell?
Why did the Mavericks re-sign Dwight Powell?
Just before training camp began, the Dallas Mavericks signed veteran forward/center Dwight Powell to a one-year contract rumored to be worth $3.8 million, featuring $1 million partially guaranteed and another $500 thousand guaranteed if he is on the roster for opening night.
What are the risks of keeping Powell over younger players?
Because the Mavericks are currently at their 15-man roster limit, they would need to trade or waive a player to create a spot for Powell.
Can the Mavericks trade Caleb Martin?
Given that the Mavericks lack significant draft capital, it would be nearly impossible to trade Martin at his current salary without including picks. Waiving him is an option, but because his contract is fully guaranteed, it would result in a large amount of dead money on the books.
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