Mavericks' first free agency move just shut the door on reunion with fan favorite

The Dallas Mavericks kicked off this week with a series of good news. For starters, Dallas is set to draft Cooper Flagg on Wednesday, a player almost guaranteed to get selected with the No. 1 pick. Flagg has all the intangibles to take Dallas to the next level with his sharp 3-point shooting. Basically, he can become the next face of the franchise almost right away.

Flagg is likely to join Kyrie Irving for the next season as one of his running mates alongside Anthony Davis. This assumes Irving opts into his contract or signs a whole new deal with Dallas. The ball is in Irving's court, but most signs point to him returning. Recently, the Mavericks posted a picture stating "Startin' to feel like summer" with various players in the background, including Irving. This is a positive for a team hoping to bring him back.

While Irving is still in question, Dwight Powell confirmed his status. Powell opted into his $4 million option on Saturday. This guarantees the Mavs' vocal leader will return next season, as he gives Dallas a leadership presence in the locker room. This could be a huge boost for Flagg. He will need all the mentorship he can get.

Dwight Powell's return could cost the Mavericks Kai Jones in free agency

However, Powell's return might mean bad news for one of his former teammates. Kai Jones might be the odd man in Dallas next season, as the Mavs are overloaded with big men. Now that Powell is returning, this means the team's frontcourt is loaded. Currently, the Mavs have Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, Anthony Davis, and now Dwight Powell on the depth chart.

Nothing is set in stone, but all signs point towards Jones possibly not returning as he is a free agent. It's difficult to see a scenario where Dallas brings him back. One option could be the Mavs trade Powell or Gafford for a much-needed guard. Then, it's possible Jones could return. So, never say never, but Jones' departure would hurt the Mavs' fan base.

If you recall, Jones came to Dallas in the middle of the season as a two-way addition. He made a huge impact on both ends of the court. Jones impressed fans with his crazy hoops and high level of athleticism, as he was the one Mavs player not afraid to contest shots down low.

Last season, Jones started in six games and played in 12 matches for Dallas. He played a critical role whenever the Mavs dealt with injuries to players like Davis and Lively II. Jones made his presence known from the start, as fans began to adore him.

He averaged 12.1 points per game and 7.5 rebounds in 23.6 minutes per game during March. In his first game with Dallas, Jones scored 21 points and had eight rebounds while shooting 90 percent from the field. He repeated his performance the following game, when he dropped a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Not to mention, he shot 88.9 percent overall.

He also played on April 13 after numerous Mavs' players were out for the final game. Jones scored 11 points and had eight rebounds against the Memphis Grizzlies.

So, now it appears April 13 may be Jones' final game for the Mavs. He was a player who provided quality depth and size for a Dallas team that dealt with numerous injuries last season. Now, he may be gone after Powell's signing. However, if something drastic happens, for example, Gafford or Powell gets traded, then it's clear Dallas must sign Kai Jones.

Jones would be a viable option next to players like Kyrie Irving, Cooper Flagg, and Anthony Davis. It would allow Dallas to use Jones in a variety of ways and give them an extra player who can play both ends of the floor and is a lob threat. So while Powell is coming back, a reunion with Jones might not be a bad thing. For now, though, Kai Jones will be missed by many Mavs fans if he does leave.