7 Dallas Mavericks players who definitely shouldn't be back next year

2. Dwight Powell

After the McGee experiment failed, the coaching staff turned back to Powell as the starting center. He played in all 100 of the team’s games in the 2021-22 season, and was their starter throughout the Mavs postseason run. Dallas wanted to upgrade that spot, but it just did not happen.

Powell is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and the Dallas Mavericks cannot afford to overpay him again. He signed a three-year $33 million extension in 2019, which was fine, but DP should not be making $11 million per season. His teammates love him, and Powell is one of the smartest players in the NBA, but they need on-court production. He would be a fine backup center, but a contending team cannot afford to pay a reserve playing 20 minutes per game $11 million each year.

Is DP willing to take a pay cut to stay in Dallas as the backup center? If so, he could stick around. Powell will likely be searching for a significant contract in free agency. The Indiana Pacers have cap space, and fans know former Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle is a massive fan of Dwight Powell. Could the duo reunite in Indiana where Powell could back up Myles Turner?

The Dallas Mavericks cannot have him back as the team’s starting center. They must upgrade that position this offseason before it is too late.