Dallas Mavericks pick up team option on Willie Cauley-Stein

The Dallas Mavericks have a plethora of important decisions to make this offseason. They have already hired a new general manager and head coach. Nico Harrison and Jason Kidd join Mark Cuban, Michael Finley, and Dirk Nowitzki as important decision-makers for the Mavs. They are now tasked with improving their roster around superstar Luka Doncic.

The Mavericks can create cap space this summer in hopes of landing a marquee free agent. They are exploring every avenue on how to upgrade their roster. Dallas traded Josh Richardson to the Celtics for Moses Brown to clear some space. The next domino of the Mavericks offseason fell on Aug. 1.

According to Shams Charania, the Mavs are exercising their $4.1 million team option on the contract of Willie Cauley-Stein. The seven-footer will be back with the Mavericks next season. Here is a closer look at what that means.

Dallas Mavericks exercise team option on Willie Cauley-Stein

Cauley-Stein came to Dallas in a mid-season trade in Jan. 2020. He struggled to find his footing before the shutdown and did not play inside the bubble, but the Mavericks re-signed him to a two-year deal worth $8.2 million last offseason. The organization had a team option on Trill’s contract for next season that they exercised on Sunday.

Cauley-Stein is an athletic big man that attacks the rim, rebounds, and defends well. The Mavericks produced some of their best numbers with WCS on the floor last season. He is a matchups play, but a 27-year-old center on a value contract. Cauley-Stein averaged 5.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 17.1 minutes per game during the 2020-2021 campaign.

The Dallas Mavericks can open more cap space by trading away Willie Cauley-Stein if necessary. If not, he will be the team’s backup center next season. Trill continues to work hard and is improving his jumper. Dallas would be happy to keep him on their roster.

NBA free agency opens on Aug. 2 at 5 p.m. CT. The Mavericks are going to be active and aggressive in trying to improve their roster. Be sure to check back to The Smoking Cuban for analysis on every move.