The Mavericks’ training camp has opened with a few roster spots and roles hanging in the balance, and three players are squarely in the fight to keep their NBA jobs.
With injuries up front to Dereck Lively II, Morez Johnson Jr., and Santi Aldama, Dallas may need some of these names to stay active and relevant sooner rather than later. But for Dwight Powell, Seth Lundy and Caleb Martin, the preseason is about more than opportunity - it’s about proving they belong.
Powell is the clearest case of a veteran trying to hold his ground. The Mavericks brought him back on a one-year deal before camp, and it’s believed they told him they would make a real push to create a roster spot for him.
His value isn’t built on big numbers or a featured role. It’s about experience, leadership and being the kind of steady presence every good team needs.
He’s also the longest-tenured Maverick on the roster by far, arriving in the Rajon Rondo trade during the 2014-15 season. The next-longest tenured player in Dallas is Kyrie Irving, who came over in a trade in 2023. Even so, Powell still has to show this new coaching staff and front office that he can give them four or five useful minutes if the situation calls for it.
Lundy’s path is different, and much less secure. Dallas signed him to an Exhibit-10 contract, which could end up being his last shot to stick in the league.
The former Penn State guard was taken in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks, but he appeared in just 9 games for them that season on a two-way contract. Atlanta waived him in December 2024, the LA Clippers picked him up on a two-way deal, and he never played for them before being waived last offseason.
He has, however, made some noise this summer. Lundy resurfaced in the Summer League, where he put up 20 PPG and shot 44% from three for the Toronto Raptors’ Summer League team. Now he’s trying to turn that into another chance somewhere.
Martin sits in a far more complicated spot. He still has two years left on his contract and is set to make more than $19 million, but his play since landing in Dallas in the Quentin Grimes trade has been rough. The deal left the Mavericks with a difficult contract to move, and Martin now has to show that his defense can still be good enough to keep him on the roster.
Offensively, he’s never been much of a weapon, even with the flashes he showed in the postseason a few years ago with the Miami Heat. For Martin, the defensive end is where he has to make his case. If that doesn’t hold, Dallas will be looking at every possible way to move on.
In Other News...
Mavericks Face A Costly Roster Decision After Dwight Powell Return
Dwight Powell is back in the mix for Dallas, and the Mavericks are weighing whether to keep the longtime veteran on the regular-season roster. Powell has been a respected presence in the organization for years, but his role has steadily shrunk, and his return comes at a time when the roster is already crowded enough to force a hard choice.
The issue is less about Powells place in the room than the domino effect his spot would create. Dallas already has a full slate of standard contracts, and making room could push the front office toward an uncomfortable financial decision involving Caleb Martin, whose guaranteed deal gives the Mavericks little flexibility and a lot of incentive to think twice before making a move. [Read more 🡒]
Mavs Camp Just Put One Key Injury Question Front And Center
Training camp opened with the Mavericks trying to get a clean read on a roster that has already spent some time on the injury report, and coach Dusty May laid out a mixed picture on the first day. Santi Aldama is limited by a minor issue, Max Christie is dealing with a bump and bruise that is not considered serious, and first-round pick Morez Johnson is trending in the right direction after missing Summer League games because of an illness. It was the kind of early-camp update that says more about pacing than panic, with Dallas still trying to settle bodies and roles before the season gets moving.
The bigger question sits with Dereck Lively II, who has been working outside of practice while recovering from foot surgery. He said he can run and jump, but the timetable for his return to full work remains one of the central storylines around camp, especially with the Mavericks eager to move past a difficult stretch and lean into the joy of basketball message their president highlighted at media day. For a team that wants to reconnect with its fans and establish a better tone, getting key pieces healthy is obviously part of the equation, and Livelys status is one of the first things everyone around the building is watching. [Read more 🡒]
Dereck Lively II Leaves Mavs Waiting On The One Thing That Matters
Dereck Lively II is back around the Mavericks as training camp gets rolling, but he is still not a full participant while he continues to work his way back from foot surgery performed in December 2025. Dallas is taking the cautious route with its young center, a sensible approach given how much of his early career has already been shaped by foot issues and surgery.
For the Mavericks, the priority is bigger than getting Lively back on the floor right away. They want him healthy for the long haul, and that patience comes with the usual waiting game for everyone involved because there is no timetable yet for when he will return to normal basketball activities. In a camp built around preparation and progress, his status remains one of the clearest reminders that the most important update is still to come. [Read more 🡒]