It is without question that the Dallas Mavericks have one of the dominant frontcourts in the league. Dallas is stacked with hard-nosed centers, including Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and Anthony Davis. Any team would be thrilled to have this stacked of a roster.
However, this could cause problems in the future. It's clear Davis is the team's primary player, and he isn't going anywhere after getting brought to Dallas in a trade for Luka Doncic. This dilemma of stacked centers could cause a shakeup for one of the first two centers. For example, Gafford could be looking for an extension soon, and Dallas may not want to pay him, Lively II, and Davis simultaneously. Could this mean Gafford might end up on the trading block soon?
Possibly. He is realistically the odd man out if Dallas is forced to pay all three big men. This would be a heartbreaking move for fans, as Gafford has shown so much heart and toughness. His value has meant the world to the team.
One possible team primed to take Gafford away from the Mavericks is the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers desperately need a center, and Gafford would be the perfect man for the role, especially because of his relationship with Doncic.
The main thing keeping Powell in Dallas has nothing to do with basketball
So, if Gafford were traded, what could this mean for other players? Especially, someone like Dwight Powell. If you recall, Powell was the team's starting center for about four seasons. He started 64 games during the 2022-23 season and 71 games during the 2021-22 season. Powell was also the Mavs' top center during their Western Conference Finals run in the 2022 playoffs.
However, after the arrival of Gafford and Lively II, Powell's minutes began to decrease. Last season, he started in nine out of 63 games. The same trend occurred this season when he averaged 10 minutes per game. His contribution began to diminish as Dallas started to lose trust in Powell. It also didn't help that Dallas was overloaded with centers. So, this means Powell's days of playing big minutes every night have become a thing of the past.
Powell is entering the final year of his three-year $12 million deal, which he signed in July 2023. So, this should give Dallas more leverage to trade Powell, right?
Well, not necessarily. Last August, Fran Leiva of Fadeaway World combined a list of 10 players who could be traded if they didn't improve. Powell made the list, as Leiva believed his performance would determine his outcome. Many Mavericks fans have wanted Powell traded due to his regression, as he has nearly become unplayable.
Yet, here we are months later, and Powell is still with the Mavs.
One reason for Dallas' inability to trade Powell is due to his actions off the court. In a recent exit interview with the Mavericks, Spencer Dinwiddie spoke about Powell's presence inside the locker room.
"From a cultural standpoint, Dwight Powell is a great voice in the locker room. His energy is unmatched," Dinwiddie said.
So, while some fans are begging for Powell to get traded, Dinwiddie is stating the opposite. He believes Powell's leadership is untouchable. It is without question that Powell understands the culture of winning in Dallas. He is the longest-tenured player with the team, and he has been with Dallas since 2014. Powell has seen both the good and the bad. As mentioned, Powell was there when Dallas made a deep playoff run in 2022.
Maybe Dinwiddie might be on to something. Powell's knowledge and wisdom could be helpful for Dallas in the long run. His experience and vocal presence could be similar to Markieff Morris, a person important to last year's success. Similar to Powell, Morris saw limited playing time, but made himself known inside the locker room.
It's possible Dallas is holding to Powell the same way they did for Morris. Powell's leadership and vocal presence could be making a deeper impact than fans may not know about. So, if Dinwiddie is right, then why not let Powell stay? I mean, one more year won't hurt, right?
