Dallas Mavericks' restriction to trade veteran center lifted

The Dallas Mavericks had a huge draft night this year as they drafted their hopeful center of the future in Dereck Lively II, traded for the draft rights of a solid wing in Olivier-Maxence Prosper, and added frontcourt depth in Richaun Holmes.

The Mavs used the traded player exception from the trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire Prosper and Holmes, and the Mavs quickly tried to move Holmes on draft night through trade talks with the Phoenix Suns for Deandre Ayton.

It took a while for the trade to be finalized, but once it was, the Mavs had a 60-day trade restriction for moving Holmes unless it was a trade that only included him. Dallas couldn't make a trade that included Holmes and other players.

Dallas Mavericks' restriction to trade veteran center lifted

As of September 6, the Mavs can officially trade Holmes, and they could be looking to do so quickly. The draft night trade with the Kings was centered around Dallas landing Prosper, and it wouldn't make sense for Holmes to take minutes from Lively II, considering that the Mavs spent a first-round pick on him.

The Mavs' main priority also seems to be trading for a new starting center, and if they do, it seems almost inevitable that Holmes would be included in that deal to help salary match and to make room for the new big.

It doesn't seem likely that Dallas would trade Lively II or Dwight Powell, and that leaves Holmes as the odd man out.

If Dallas decides not to trade Holmes, he could end up being a valuable bench piece. Holmes had a limited role off the bench for the Sacramento Kings last season and only averaged 3.1 points per game, but just two seasons before, he averaged 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

Can Holmes return to his form from the 2020-21 season? Will Dallas trade him?

Both of those questions will be answered soon, and we'll have you covered.