MAVS NEWS:

[Chicagojk]

I understand the difficulty for the Mavs to make this call.  To me, it all boils down do they think Cisse will ever develop into a quality backup center.   Or even a good third center.   If the answer is yes, I would keep Cisse.

There is no doubt Powell is the better player currently and if they are expecting Powell or Cisse to get real minutes this year, than Powell would be more productive.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I understand the difficulty for the Mavs to make this call.  To me, it all boils down do they think Cisse will ever develop into a quality backup center.   Or even a good third center.   If the answer is yes, I would keep Cisse.

There is no doubt Powell is the better player currently and if they are expecting Powell or Cisse to get real minutes this year, than Powell would be more productive.

The thing that I don't get is Dallas usually does a fairly good job of looking out for the guys it is moving on from.  Waiting until the last minute kind of screws Cisse if it is him.  Rosters will be fairly full and it might be tough to find anything better than a standard contract.  They did pay him a standard contract to put up with being screwed over, but it isn't how they've typically operated.

It makes me wonder if they aren't trying to find a deal that allows them to keep both.  Cisse would be kept as a prospect and Powell kept to fill a current need.  We haven't seen Aldama and won't apparently see Lively anytime soon.  Morez has been battling lower leg issues, so we aren't exactly overflowing at centers who are fully healthy right now.

[Chicagojk]

The thing that I don't get is Dallas usually does a fairly good job of looking out for the guys it is moving on from.  Waiting until the last minute kind of screws Cisse if it is him.  Rosters will be fairly full and it might be tough to find anything better than a standard contract.  They did pay him a standard contract to put up with being screwed over, but it isn't how they've typically operated.

It makes me wonder if they aren't trying to find a deal that allows them to keep both.  Cisse would be kept as a prospect and Powell kept to fill a current need.  We haven't seen Aldama and won't apparently see Lively anytime soon.  Morez has been battling lower leg issues, so we aren't exactly overflowing at centers who are fully healthy right now.

Yeah, I think they are trying to find a trade.  Either trading Cisse or trading someone else to clear up a spot.  I think the second one of these is going to be very challenging.    We will see.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Yeah, I think they are trying to find a trade.  Either trading Cisse or trading someone else to clear up a spot.  I think the second one of these is going to be very challenging.    We will see.

Unfortunately, they can't trade Cisse or Powell right now.  So, it would have to be someone else.

[Smitty]

@ShamsCharania
The Dallas Mavericks are waiving veteran center Dwight Powell, sources tell ESPN.

[Scott41theMavs]

@ShamsCharania
The Dallas Mavericks are waiving veteran center Dwight Powell, sources tell ESPN.

Ha!

This was always the Occam's Razor solution, not waiving a talented young big man.

[Chicagojk]

Powell had a pretty good preseason.  I wonder if he gets interest from other teams?   Dallas gave him some money in guarantees right?  It wouldn't surprise me if he is back at some point this year with Dallas, if he doesn't sign someone else.  Especially if they make a trade.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Powell is not a NBA player from maybe 2019/20.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Powell had a pretty good preseason.  I wonder if he gets interest from other teams?   Dallas gave him some money in guarantees right?  It wouldn't surprise me if he is back at some point this year with Dallas, if he doesn't sign someone else.  Especially if they make a trade.

They paid him $1.0mm.

[Scott41theMavs]

They paid him $1.0mm.

Nice work if you can get it.

[WillE]

Thank you, DP.

It was great to have you with us over the last decade. One of the all time Mavs greatest for sure.

Hope, you'll be back here soon.

[myconsumerclub]

Oh the anguish of being teased into thinking they might actually be dumb enough that they would cut a young guy for Powell.

Cisse looked like he had serious potential last season for being one of the best rookie centers in last years rookie class.

His weakness with free throw shooting even looks somewhat improved.

And yet he still was not too super impressive in preseason.

Was he the better option over watching Powell for another season.

This is a season of playing younger guys to get them minutes to develop so that next year we are a playoff team with potential to be win now.

Early season games will probably suck bad till the chemistry gets established but when they get it together at some point this season these guys are going to win games way more often and we may see them sneak into the play offs this year.

That early schedule looks tough.

I never doubted DP would be set on the path to retirement it was the right one to put him on.

[myconsumerclub]

Oh the anguish of being teased into thinking they might actually be dumb enough that they would cut a young guy for Powell.

Cisse looked like he had serious potential last season for being one of the best rookie centers in last years rookie class.

His weakness with free throw shooting even looks somewhat improved.

And yet he still was not too super impressive in preseason.

Was he the better option over watching Powell for another season?

YES!!!!

This is a season of playing younger guys to get them minutes to develop so that next year we are a playoff team with potential to be win now.

Early season games will probably suck bad till the chemistry gets established but when they get it together at some point this season these guys are going to win games way more often and we may see them sneak into the play offs this year.

That early schedule looks tough.

I never doubted DP would be set on the path to retirement it was the right one to put him on.

[DallasMaverick]

They paid him $1.0mm.

It was a well-deserved “loyalty tip”.

[cow]

It was a well-deserved “loyalty tip”.

Called this back when they signed him.

[WillE]

Called this back when they signed him.

But it also means DP decided against trying to find an offer elsewhere, and instead took the risk of being cut and having worse chances now at another roster spot.

But let's see how trade season goes. If we happen to have a spot open after TDL, I wouldn't be surprised to see him back again.

[F Gump]

But it also means DP decided against trying to find an offer elsewhere, and instead took the risk of being cut and having worse chances now at another roster spot.

But let's see how trade season goes. If we happen to have a spot open after TDL, I wouldn't be surprised to see him back again.

Let's not pretend this was anything special. For all we know, DP and his agent desperately searched all 30 teams for an NBA spot all summer, before getting a few dollars (in NBA terms) to go to Mavs camp. If any other team wants him at all, they can claim him on waivers, locked up on a contract with limited guarantee money, but I don't think anyone expects that will happen.

[Smitty]

@MFollowill
Mavs roster avg age on final day of 25-26 season: 26 yrs 328 days.
Mavs roster avg age as of Oct. 19: 25 yrs 160 days.

Decrease in avg age of 1 year and 168 days is 4th biggest in NBA last season to this one behind Bucks, T-Wolves & Kings.

Avg age of 25y 160d puts the Mavs at the 5th youngest roster in the NBA as of 10/19, behind Nets, Grizzlies, Thunder & Hornets.

Thanks to SportRadar for helping me on this research project.

[michaeltex]

Let's not pretend this was anything special. For all we know, DP and his agent desperately searched all 30 teams for an NBA spot all summer, before getting a few dollars (in NBA terms) to go to Mavs camp. If any other team wants him at all, they can claim him on waivers, locked up on a contract with limited guarantee money, but I don't think anyone expects that will happen.

I guess he joins the list of "Break glass in Emergency" FA Centers. Per Google AI, in no particular order:

Nick Richards - Interest from CHI and PHX
Kevin Love - PHI interested, but has full roster
Nicolas Batum - May return to France
Drew Eubanks - PnR finisher
Bismack Biyombo - Shot blocker and locker room presence
Mason Plumlee - Passing and rebounding depth
Dwight Powell - Screen setting and locker room presence