The first two preseason games have already said plenty about where the Dallas Mavericks may be headed with Dwight Powell. What started as a camp invite that felt temporary now looks a lot more like a real roster conversation, and the answer could end up being costly for a younger big man already under contract.
Powell logged 28 minutes across the two games in Macao, China, against the Houston Rockets and put up four points, six rebounds, 10 assists, one steal and one block. He also helped Dallas finish plus-14 while he was on the floor. That production alone is notable, but the bigger storyline is how much run he got compared with Moussa Cisse.
Cisse only played 21 minutes over the two games and did not make a field goal. He still found ways to contribute with seven rebounds, two steals and one block, but the minutes split is hard to ignore. Preseason rotations are never the whole story, yet it raises an obvious question about why Dusty May would lean more heavily on Powell than on a second-year center who recently delivered 17 points and 20 rebounds in his most recent regular-season game.
That is why the simplest path to keeping Powell around would appear to be moving on from Cisse. Powell was a late addition to the training camp roster, and once that happened, the math on Dallas’ 15-man roster got uncomfortable. Cisse’s contract became guaranteed earlier this month, and the Mavericks matched the New York Knicks’ offer sheet for him in free agency, but he still looks like one of the more movable pieces if Dallas decides it has to create space.
The contract itself is part of the equation. Cisse is signed only through the 2027-28 season and is set to make $4.76 million over those two years. He also occupies the same position as Powell, which is why the speculation has centered on him as the likely odd man out if the Mavericks decide Powell needs to stay.
But from a basketball standpoint, that would be a strange choice.
Powell is 11 years older than Cisse, and the direction of the two players is moving in opposite ways. Powell brings experience and leadership, but his production is declining.
Cisse, meanwhile, showed real promise as a rookie by making an impact with rebounding, shot-blocking, hustle and energy. Per 36 minutes last season, he averaged 11.5 points, 14.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 3.1 blocks per game.
That kind of value matters even more on a cost-controlled contract, especially for a team entering a new era built around 19-year-old Cooper Flagg. Dallas has a young center who already looks useful and fits the timeline. Replacing him with a player who is 16 years older would be a tough sell, even if Powell’s familiarity with the franchise makes the reunion appealing.
The Mavericks’ two preseason games this week should give a clearer picture of where this is going. For now, though, the signs point to Dallas at least entertaining the idea of making room for Powell on the 15-man roster, even if that means a move that doesn’t make much sense on the surface.
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Max Christie Could Become Much More Dangerous In New Mavericks Role
The Mavericks early preseason look has already hinted at some lineup experimentation, and Zaccharie Risachers presence is giving Dallas another option on the wing. If Risacher settles into a starting shooting guard job, Max Christie could be the player nudged into a different role after starting 68 games last season and showing clear growth on both ends of the floor. That kind of shift would be a notable one for a player who earned more trust with improved scoring and defense and now has to adjust to a new fit in a young roster under Dusty May.
For Christie, a move to the bench would not automatically mean a step back. It could actually come with more freedom, more touches, and more responsibility as Dallas continues to prioritize development and see what it has in its younger pieces. The bigger question is how that usage looks in practice, and whether Christie can turn a different role into a more dangerous offensive profile for a Mavericks team still sorting out its long-term rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks May Have Already Found Klay Thompson's Shooting Replacement
Klay Thompsons departure left the Mavericks with a clear need on the perimeter, and Dallas moved quickly to address it by bringing in Tarik Biberovic. After buying out Thompson this offseason, the Mavs watched him land with the Miami Heat, then turned to a shooter who built a strong reputation in Europe and flashed that same touch in preseason games.
Biberovic is expected to fill a similar role as a high-volume threat from deep, giving Dallas another option to stretch defenses and help improve the teams three-point shooting. It is a different path than the one Thompson took, but for a roster still sorting out its spacing, the Mavericks believe they may already have a useful answer in place. [Read more 🡒]
Dwight Powell's Mavericks Role Suddenly Feels Bigger Than Fans Expected
Dwight Powell has been a familiar face in Dallas for a long time, but this preseason has given his presence a different kind of weight. He has been in the Mavericks exhibition lineup and drawn positive comments from coach Dusty May, who pointed to Powells leadership, basketball IQ and fit with the second unit. With his contract now guaranteed, the veteran big man is no longer just trying to keep a spot - he is being viewed as someone who can help steady the group and bring younger players along.
Powells value also goes beyond the routine preseason minutes. May has highlighted what he can offer in the pick-and-roll, an area that often helps define bench units early in the year, and the Mavericks still have two more preseason games to sort out how all of it fits. For a player whose role can sometimes be taken for granted, this stretch has made clear that his continued play could still shape where he stands by the time Dallas finalizes its roster. [Read more 🡒]