Poulakidas Is Gone, And Dallas Still Needs Shooters Before…

By the Mavericks Nightly Desk · Monday, October 19

Dallas waived Seth Lundy and John Poulakidas, and the Mavericks open the 2026-27 season Oct. 21 at the Rockets with four players listed day-to-day. Last season's shooting numbers say the cuts matter less than who spaces the floor around Cooper Flagg.

Mavericks Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

The Cuts Thin The Shooting

Lundy and Poulakidas both left the roster Sunday. Poulakidas scored 6 against the Pelicans three days earlier. The Smoking Cuban's Noah Weber wrote that the Mavericks' 3-point shooting problem worsens after the waiver. That is his argument, and last season's numbers lean his way: Flagg shot 29.5 percent from deep, Naji Marshall 29.1 and P.J. Washington 32.5.

Christie Is The Spacing Anchor

Max Christie hit 40.4 percent from three last season, tops among Dallas's eight leading scorers. He is also the player whose status keeps flipping: cleared Saturday, then back to day-to-day the same day. Zaccharie Risacher shot 36.8 and Aldama 35.0. Dallas has few shooters who space the floor for Flagg, and the club just cut one.

Houston Arrives With Questions

The opener is Wednesday at the Rockets, then Indiana on Oct. 23 and San Antonio on Oct. 24. Aldama, Howard, Biberovic and Lively are all day-to-day, each with an estimated return of Oct. 21. Lively is the one with no update since the Sept. 23 report that he was not cleared for camp. Gafford, at 0.0 from three last season, needs a creator beside him. The open question: does Lively play Wednesday, and if not, who protects the rim?

When do the Mavericks open the 2026-27 season?

Dallas opens Oct. 21 at the Rockets, then plays at the Pacers on Oct. 23 and hosts the Spurs on Oct. 24.

Who did the Mavericks cut?

Dallas waived Seth Lundy and John Poulakidas, who both left the roster Sunday.

By the Mavericks Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.