Mavericks want to keep Dwight Powell despite roster squeeze
Dallas told Dwight Powell it will try to keep him, but Biberovic, Sasser or Cisse may have to be traded or waived to make room on the roster this season.
The Dallas Mavericks have told Dwight Powell they will make a real effort to keep him on the roster, according to insider Marc Stein. Doing so may cost them one of Tarik Biberovic, Marcus Sasser or Moussa Cisse.
Powell, a big man, has been with the club longer than anyone else, since December 2014. The difficulty is the salary sheet. The three contracts that are easiest to shed belong to the three players the front office most wants to keep.
Biberovic was taken with the 56th pick in the 2023 draft and has only now reached the NBA, after eight years at Fenerbahce. He was MVP of the Turkish Cup final and is aiming to secure a place in the club's long-term plans.
Sasser arrived in July in a trade with Detroit. He averaged 5.2 points and 2 assists last season for a side that finished top of the Eastern Conference.
Cisse is valued highly enough that Dallas matched an offer from New York to hold on to him. The young centre averaged 4.5 points and 5.7 rebounds in 2025/26.
If the club is set on keeping all four, something has to give. This may mean a trade or a waiver for one of the three younger players, or it may mean Powell's long stay ends after all.
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