Mavericks just sent Cooper Flagg a clear message by waiving Dwight Powell

The Dallas Mavericks moved on from Dwight Powell, the longest-tenured player on the team by a significant margin, on Monday morning. Dallas' decision to move on from Powell not only ensures that second-year center Moussa Cisse's roster spot is safe ahead of the regular season beginning on Wednesday, but it also sends Cooper Flagg a clear message: this front office is serious about building around him, and they are prioritizing winning in the future rather than right now.

With Powell on the roster during training camp, the Mavs had 16 players on standard contracts. Someone getting cut was inevitable, as teams can only have 15 players on standard deals entering the regular season, and the two most vulnerable candidates always seemed like Powell and Cisse.

Moving on from Dwight Powell illustrates a clear future-facing vision

Powell was vulnerable due to the fact that he was such a late addition to training camp, and Cisse seemed like he was on the bubble since he plays the same position as Powell and is only under contract through the end of the 2027-28 season. Moving on from Cisse to keep Powell seemed likely if Masai Ujiri wanted to keep the longtime Mavericks veteran, but when it came down to it, Ujiri elected to bet on the youth movement rather than keeping Dwight around.

Ever since Ujiri took over as president of basketball operations for Dallas, he has made it clear that the Mavericks are building for the future. The Mavericks have a 19-year-old future superstar at their fingertips, and Ujiri isn't going to do anything to compromise his future.

Powell would've helped the Mavericks win now, but not in the future

He wants to put the best possible team around Flagg to compete for years to come rather than right now.

If Dallas was focused on winning as soon as possible, Powell would've been the right choice over Cisse. DP had been on the team since 2014, provided phenomenal leadership, and knew what it takes to win in the NBA.

He was on both of the Mavericks' most successful teams since they won the NBA Finals in 2011, the Western Conference Finals team in 2022, and the NBA Finals team in 2024, and his experience, combined with his underrated on-court impact, would've been a great piece at the end of the bench for Dusty May during his first season as head coach.

Powell keeps the ball moving, sets great screens, and understands the game well. His high IQ, hustle, and energy off the bench have made him a staple in the rotation for years, and while he wouldn't have played much if the Mavericks had kept him, he's more ready for a playoff role than someone like Cisse.

Despite Powell's undeniable talent, he's 35 years old, over 15 years older than Flagg. He's more fit to play for a playoff team rather than a young rebuilding squad.

Mavericks bet on Cisse's potential over Powell's experience

The Mavericks picked Cisse's upside over Powell's immediate impact, showing that they're serious about the team's long-term future. Cisse has the potential to develop into a rotation-caliber big man due to his athleticism, energy, defense, and hustle, but he may not be ready for a massive role just yet. He has plenty of work to do, especially when it comes to touch around the basket, but the future is bright for the young big man.

He now has the chance to grow alongside the rest of the Mavericks' young core, while Powell must search for an opportunity elsewhere if he hopes to continue playing in the NBA. Dallas made it overwhelmingly obvious that they're serious about their future and building a contender by moving on from Powell, and fans should be excited about Cisse's chance to grow as he enters his second season.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow