After a dismal 2025 season, the Dallas Mavericks were saved by winning the lottery and the chance to select Cooper Flagg in today's NBA Draft. Flagg is a generational prospect with all the tools necessary to be a future two-way superstar.
With Flagg comes a change in the direction of the franchise. The Mavericks already had a surplus of frontcourt talent, and Flagg adds yet another big that demands serious playing time. Flagg, Anthony Davis, P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II, and now Daniel Gafford, after he signed a three-year extension the other day, all play the 4/5 positions. This overload of talent leaves fan favorite Dwight Powell with no real path to playing time and makes him an obvious trade asset after he opted into his player option earlier this offseason. Powell opting into his deal was technically the first move of the new Flagg era, as it happened last week, but his time next to Flagg could end before it even begins.
With the exception of his first five NBA games, Powell has spent the entirety of his career as a Maverick, racking up 11 seasons in Dallas and holding the title of longest tenured active Maverick. Powell has been one of the league's underrated glue guys for the better part of a decade. Now, it appears his Mavericks tenure could be coming to a close.
Drafting Flagg and extending Gafford leaves no room for Dwight Powell
Dwight Powell is a classic rim-running big, setting screens and only taking open shots. Defensively, he is a well-positioned rim protector, even if his individual paint defense leaves more to be desired from a starting center. Powell's ideal role is as a backup big capable of playing in jumbo lineups for additional rim protection support.
By extending Gafford, the Mavericks have made it clear that he could be the starting center of the future. Dereck Lively II is a young center who was integral to the Mavs' 2024 NBA Finals run and has the potential to be a top-tier rim-running center. At the four, the Mavericks have Davis, one of the league's best players, and Flagg, who projects to be one of the best players in the world after a few seasons of growth.
However, Powell's impact off the court is arguably more important than his playing time. Teammate Spencer Dinwiddie described Powell's effect well, saying the Stanford product has "unmatched" energy and is "a great voice in the locker room." He gives relentless effort even when former Mavs stars Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis faced criticism for their perceived effort.
In the community, Powell has an impact closer to an MVP level than a glue guy. After losing his mother to breast cancer in 2012, Powell created the Dwight Powell Children and Family Support Fund for the families of cancer patients. As someone who understands the struggle of cancer firsthand, Powell was able to leave a remarkable impact on the Dallas and Texas communities.
Powell's work won him the 2020 NBA Cares Community Assist Award, awarded to the NBA player who makes the greatest impact in their community. In addition to the work of his charity, Powell went above and beyond when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, joining Mark Cuban and Luka Doncic as donors for essential workers. During the pandemic, he worked tirelessly to support anyone affected by the pandemic, from first responders to young fans.
Trading Powell would be heartbreaking to Mavs fans and players, yet it seems inevitable to support Nico Harrison's two-timeline vision. Powell opted into his $4 million player option for this season, leaving the Mavs veteran as an obvious trade asset with a low-value expiring contract. Dallas could even end up trading him tonight. The Mavericks seemingly have to make a trade this offseason to shore up their weak backcourt while Kyrie Irving is out with an ACL tear.
