Dwight Powell's departure from the Mavericks became official on October 20, a move ESPN reported as the end of a 12-year run in Dallas. It leaves Daniel Gafford, Moussa Cisse and a still-unavailable Dereck Lively as the centers heading into the October 21 opener in Houston.
The middle just got thin
Powell is out, and Mavs.com wrote that he will be severely missed. The Smoking Cuban's Noah Weber tied the cut to Moussa Cisse, a 24-year-old with one year of experience. Gafford gave Dallas 9.5 points and 6.9 rebounds in 21.7 minutes last season, and he is the one center with no injury tag. Lively played 7 games last season, carries a right foot issue, and is targeting October 21. Mavs Moneyball's Joe Friedman reported the Mavericks passed on a Lively extension, so the question at the position is bigger than one opener.
Why the tax math matters
Payroll sits at $197.9 million, a sliver under the $200.4 million luxury tax. Kyrie Irving's $39.5 million leads the books, followed by P.J. Washington at $19.8 million, Klay Thompson at $17.5 million, Gafford at $17.3 million and Santi Aldama at $17.0 million. The Smoking Cuban floated signing Walter Clayton Jr., and that is the kind of move this sliver constrains. The 2027 first is protected to Charlotte and the 2028 through 2030 firsts are swaps, so the trade cupboard offers no easy fix either.
What Houston tests Wednesday
Dallas opens October 21 at the Rockets, then plays at Indiana October 23 and hosts San Antonio October 24. Preseason went 1-3, with a 132-115 win in Houston on October 11 before losses of 97-101 to New Orleans and 111-135 to Atlanta, where Cooper Flagg posted 26 points and 12 rebounds. Last season's steadiest group, Washington, Gafford, Naji Marshall, Max Christie and Flagg, logged 92 minutes at a -0.6 net, against a team-wide -5.2 that produced 26-56. Aldama's knee, Tarik Biberovic's heel and Jett Howard's illness all carry an October 21 target, and Mavs Moneyball's Michael Harris reported Aldama's timeframe remains a mystery. The open question is who closes at center if Lively is not ready.
Why did the Mavericks waive Dwight Powell?
Dallas has not spelled out a reason. Mavs.com called him a teammate who will be severely missed, and The Smoking Cuban framed the cut as a roster decision tied to Moussa Cisse.
Who starts at center for Dallas against Houston?
Daniel Gafford is the healthy option. Dereck Lively is targeting October 21 with a right foot issue, and Cisse is the next body if Lively is not cleared.
