4 Mavericks who can't stay if Dallas is serious about the Anthony Davis era

The Dallas Mavericks' disastrous season finally ended on Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round of the NBA's Play-In Tournament, and the team will officially enter the offseason before the NBA Playoffs begin after reaching the NBA Finals last season.

This was the last thing that fans expected going into this season with their new-look roster, but Nico Harrison decided to roll the dice at the trade deadline by trading Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, and that move couldn't have worked out any worse. While injuries ultimately derailed the season, including Kyrie Irving tearing his ACL, Davis has not consistently performed at a superstar level since arriving in Dallas, and the Mavs didn't have enough help around him to be true championship contenders.

Harrison's dream of bringing a title to Dallas within the next few years starts again right now, as the offseason will be the perfect time for him to rebuild the roster around Irving and Davis.

4 Dallas Mavericks who shouldn't be back next season

He has already made it clear that he wants to find players to help replace Irving's production while he is out with an ACL tear, and he said he plans to do that during free agency and through the draft. While the offseason is always filled with excitement due to new players joining the squad, it is sometimes filled with sadness as beloved players can be traded or sign elsewhere.

Fans experienced this last summer when Derrick Jones Jr. signed with the LA Clippers after making it clear he wanted to remain in Dallas during the NBA Finals, and Mavs fans should be prepared for anything when it comes to their favorite players potentially not being on the roster next season. No one is safe after seeing Harrison trade Doncic out of nowhere, and this summer will be pivotal for the Mavericks to find their footing in this new era led by Davis and Irving.

4. Jaden Hardy

While Jaden Hardy has had his fair share of great moments with the Mavs, including stepping up in the playoffs last season during the Western Conference Finals, his career trajectory has not gone as expected.

This season, he has been plagued by ankle injuries, and his effect on winning is in question as he hasn't found a way to consistently contribute in games against good teams, and he hasn't been able to find his footing in Jason Kidd's rotation, even with all of the injuries.

While Hardy's knack for scoring in bunches is undeniable, it seems like he would be someone the Mavs would include in a trade as a young sweetener to help the salaries match up. Dallas just signed him to a three-year extension last summer, and $6 million annually for a player with his potential is an outstanding deal.

3. Caleb Martin

Caleb Martin's short tenure in Dallas has not gone as well as fans or the organization hoped after they coughed up Quentin Grimes and a valuable second-round pick to make him a Maverick, and he seems like someone the Mavs could explore trading this summer as he is under contract until at least the end of the 2026-27 season, and he is making about $9 million per year.

Players with these types of team-friendly contracts are almost always included in trades, and with the Mavericks set to be without Irving for a good chunk of next season, it doesn't make much sense to keep him around. While his defense has been solid, the Mavs need offense badly, and that has not been Martin's strong suit.

Dallas traded for Martin because they envisioned him as someone who would immediately become their best wing defender and complement their star players, but his reluctance to let it fly from downtown since joining the Mavericks does not mix with what they need to do moving forward.

Dallas is going to have to start getting more threes up and get their offense in a groove, and Martin may be a better fit elsewhere.

2. Spencer Dinwiddie

On one hand, Spencer Dinwiddie had some huge games for the Mavericks this season and was a big help as a spot starter during their injury curse.

On the other hand, his inconsistency hurt Dallas, and they may be better off to go out and sign a younger player who complements their stars better. Dinwiddie called his own number one too many times for some fans' liking this season, and while he was reliable as he played in 79 games, the Mavericks should have never had to rely upon him that heavily, considering he was a veteran minimum signing.

Dinwiddie coming back wouldn't be an awful idea, as his experience, leadership, and scoring are undeniable, but they can't afford to keep him, Dante Exum, and Hardy all on the roster. Someone is going to have to go to allow Brandon Williams the minutes he needs to develop into a bona fide backup point guard, and Dinwiddie may end up being the odd man out, depending on what direction Harrison decides to head down.

1. Dwight Powell

Dwight Powell is the longest-tenured Maverick heading into next season, as he has been on the team since 2014, but it may be time to cut ties this summer. Powell has a player option for next season, which he will likely accept, and while his veteran leadership is priceless, they have to have a better center to play behind Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford.

Kai Jones would be the perfect Powell replacement, as he was spectacular in the 12 games he played for Dallas as he averaged 11.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks while shooting 83.6 percent from the field, and while he wouldn't play a ton when Lively II, Gafford, and Davis are all healthy, he would be one of the better third-string bigs in the NBA.

Jones would be a major upgrade over Powell, and he deserves a standard deal in this league for the way he played over the last month or so.