Mavericks waive Willie Cauley-Stein to sign Marquese Chriss to 2-year deal

The Dallas Mavericks had multiple players enter the health and safety protocols, and they needed replacements. It opened the door for Marquese Chriss, and he took full advantage. The 6’9 forward averaged 6.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 11.8 minutes over 12 games. The Mavs gave him three ten-day contracts, but Chriss earned a deal for the rest of the season.

Tim MacMahon reported on Saturday that the Mavericks waived Wille Cauley-Stein to open up a roster spot to sign Chriss to a two-year deal. Cauley-Stein struggled this season and has been out since Nov. 27 dealing with a personal issue.

Chriss is on a minimum deal for this season and next, and the Mavericks had to eat the rest of Cauley-Stein’s contract. They took a $4.1 million cap hit, but Trill was on an expiring deal. Here is a closer look at why the Mavs needed to make this move now.

Dallas Mavericks waive Willie Cauley-Stein to sign Marquese Chriss

Chriss played his way into a multi-year deal. The Mavericks have not been able to remove him from the rotation since he signed his first ten-day contract. The 6’9 forward offers versatility and rebounding that is unmatched on the rest of their roster. Chriss sealed his roster spot with 15 points and six rebounds in 15.5 minutes in a key win over the Grizzlies on Dec. 14.

Kristaps Porzingis exited the health and safety protocols on Saturday, which left the Mavs with a decision to make. They needed to open up a roster spot if they wanted to keep Chriss. Given his recent play, some team would swoop in and sign him if Dallas did not. Cauley-Stein’s extended absence and expiring contract made him the candidate to be cut.

The Dallas Mavericks have Marquese Chriss on a minimum contract for next season. He is the perfect versatile bench big man that can make an impact in a playoff series. Stay tuned to see how he performs when Porzingis returns to the lineup, but the best is still yet to come from Chriss. Fans should be excited to see what he and the Mavs can do moving forward.