Dallas Mavericks forward/center Dwight Powell (7) poses during media day on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
The Mavericks have completed six training camp practices in the span of seven days and will take their preparations for the looming regular season abroad as they travel to Macao for the 2026 NBA China games.
There are two weeks left until rosters are finalized, but the Mavericks have the maximum of 15 standard contracts that NBA teams can carry into the regular season, leaving the future of veteran center Dwight Powell under a microscope.
Powell is on a non-guaranteed training camp contract worth $3.8 million and his status is uncertain because of the team’s logjam at the center position. He joins a group of traditional centers that includes Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford and Moussa Cisse, whose contract of $2.2 million became guaranteed for the 2026-27 season. The Mavericks also have a pair of combo bigs in rookie Morez Johnson Jr. and Santi Aldama.
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If Powell solidifies a spot on the Mavericks’ opening day roster on the deadline of Oct. 19, then he will claim sole possession of the second-most seasons in franchise history with 13, breaking a three-way tie of 12 seasons he holds with Derek Harper and Brad Davis. That trio trails only Dirk Nowitzki, whose 21 seasons in Dallas is an NBA record for the most consecutive seasons played with a single team – a mark that appears safe unless Stephen Curry plays another four seasons with the Golden State Warriors.
Powell holds value in the locker room for his veteran leadership, while providing energy and effort in practices and games.
“Dwight could be a coach,” said Mavericks coach Dusty May. “He makes everyone around him better. He’s exactly what we need as far as him being able to connect, screen, do the dirty work, the winning plays that every team needs.”
The Mavericks could be forced into a difficult decision if they choose to keep their longest tenured player in the only uniform he’s worn since he was acquired in a trade with Boston in 2014. Powell’s retention will require Dallas to either waive or trade a player to solve their roster crunch.
Here are three candidates the Mavericks could choose to part ways with to hold on to Powell:
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Tarik Biberovic
Dallas Mavericks forward Tarik Biberovic poses during media day on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
The Mavericks entered the offseason with a drastic need to acquire more 3-point shooting. They traded for Aldama, Marcus Sasser and the draft rights to Biberovic in a massive six-team trade to address that weakness. The EuroLeague sharpshooter was drafted by Memphis in 2023, but said this summer was the right time to finally make the transition to the NBA because he’s mentally prepared despite other offers.
“The staff also knew what I gave up and what I leave behind me,” Biberovic said Friday. “They know I didn’t come here just to be happy or just to be part of the team, just to be an NBA player. That was one of my first goals when I was in Europe. I never wanted to be the guy who just came in the NBA just to say he was in the NBA. I came here to make an impact.”
Biberovic is owed $3 million this season, but it sounds like he is in alignment with the Mavericks’ front office and doesn’t have plans to leave the franchise three months after his massive transition to the NBA.
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Caleb Martin
Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin (16) poses during media day on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Martin enters this season as healthy as he’s been during his 1.5 seasons in Dallas, but he figures to be on the back end of the crowded small forward rotation. He recently turned 31, making him the third-oldest on the roster after Powell (35) and Kyrie Irving (34).
The eighth-year forward averaged a career-low 3.9 points and 2.5 rebounds last season and is owed $19.3 million over the next two seasons, which includes a player option for the 2027-28 season. That number and stipulation makes it a hurdle for the Mavericks to trade or waive Martin.
Marcus Sasser
Dallas Mavericks guard Marcus Sasser poses during media day on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
The Mavericks may be well-stocked at the forward and center position, but they are quite thin at the point guard spot. Irving will retain his role as the Mavericks’ starting floor general, with Sasser and Sergio De Larrea as secondary options off the bench.
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Sasser enters a new opportunity in his hometown of Dallas after spending the first three years of his career in Detroit. He’s an elite shooter and can create his own scoring opportunities, but also has the potential to be a formidable defender despite his size at 6-foot-2. May recently lauded Sasser’s ability to make an impact without the ball.
“I’ve been impressed with his cutting,” May said. “He’s been a real contributor when he wasn’t even directly involved in the play. He’s had a lot of those hidden plays that really make the team go. His shooting, his decision-making has been very sound, and defensively, he played at Houston, so we know we’re going to get his best effort.”
Moussa Cisse
Dallas Mavericks center Moussa Cisse (30) poses during media day on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
The Mavericks let their affinity for Cisse be publicly known in July, when they matched the two-year offer sheet offered by the New York Knicks. The second step to that pledge was official Thursday, as the Mavericks let the deadline pass to guarantee Cisse’s contract.
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The second-year center proved to be valuable last season despite playing under 14 minutes per game last season. He used his athleticism and defensive prowess to average 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks as a rookie. The 6-foot-11 center made a profound statement in the regular season finale with 17 points and 20 rebounds on April 12.