Mavericks' Klay Thompson breakup makes a Dwight Powell reunion even more puzzling

After diligently searching for a trade, the Dallas Mavericks decided to part ways with Klay Thompson through a buyout earlier this offseason. This allowed the four-time NBA champion to sign with the Miami Heat, fulfilling his longstanding wish to play for a contender during the final stretch of his career.

Inside the Mavericks' decision to buy out Klay Thompson

This move was a bit disappointing at first, as Dallas failed to get any value back through a trade for one of the best shooters of all time. But in the grand scheme of things, it was necessary. The Mavs had 16 players on standard contracts, one more than the league's limit, before parting ways with Thompson.

Dallas had to get rid of one player before the season started regardless, and with Thompson's fit looking questionable as the team began the Dusty May era with a 19-year-old Cooper Flagg as the Mavs' franchise cornerstone, it made sense for both sides to split up. With this in mind, though, it makes Dwight Powell's possible return to the Mavericks for the regular season look even more puzzling.

Dwight Powell is back (for now)

Dallas plans to invite Powell to training camp ahead of the 2026-27 season, giving him a chance to fight for a roster spot. The Mavericks would need to waive someone to sign Powell to the 15-man roster. If this were to happen, it would make the Thompson buyout look even worse.

Powell would be Dallas' third-string center at best next season, behind Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford, assuming they would consider waiving second-year center Moussa Cisse to give him a roster spot. This doesn't even include Morez Johnson Jr. and Santi Aldama — two players who can play the five. Both of them would likely be in the rotation.

A Powell return would make the Thompson buyout more questionable

If the Mavs planned to give Powell a shot to earn a roster spot, Thompson's exodus from Dallas would make even less sense. Dallas could've explored other ways to create a roster spot to keep Thompson, and giving 35-year-old Powell a contract after splitting ways with Thompson earlier in the summer would look extremely puzzling.

Keeping Thompson would've allowed them to search for a trade partner at the trade deadline, as he is on an expiring contract, allowing them to recoup some value for him rather than giving him up for nothing. Powell is nowhere close to as intriguing an asset as Thompson, and this situation may get weird if DP plays himself into a roster spot with a strong preseason and training camp.

Powell signing a standard contract before the regular season still seems unlikely given that the roster is full, and the most likely outcome seems like Dallas' 15-man roster will remain as is.

But, if the improbable happens and Powell is signed to a standard contract, the optics of the team's decision to part ways with Thompson would look even more muddied.

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