Powell Re-Signs With Mavs; Roster Move Needed, Plus Kessler and Irving Updates
Dallas re-signed Dwight Powell, but the team must trade or waive someone because it already has 15 standard contracts. Marc Stein reports the easiest salaries to move belong to Marcus Sasser, Tarik Biberovic and Moussa Cisse, while Caleb Martin could be expendable despite his guaranteed money. Stein also says Walker Kessler’s representatives led Utah to believe he would accept his qualifying offer, and Kyrie Irving addressed ongoing trade rumors by saying he enjoys playing in Dallas.
Dallas already holds 15 standard contracts, so Powell’s new veteran-minimum deal forces another roster transaction. His guarantee is $1MM and would grow to $1.5MM if he remains past opening night. Marc Stein identifies Marcus Sasser ($5.2MM), Tarik Biberovic ($3MM), and Moussa Cisse ($2.2MM) as the simplest salaries to move, though Dallas would rather retain them.
Caleb Martin, 31, may be expendable because of positional depth, but roughly $20MM guaranteed over two years makes a waiver costly. Stein also reports Walker Kessler’s agents persuaded Utah he would take his qualifying offer before July’s Lakers trade, while Jalen Duren’s Detroit standoff could last until Thursday’s $9.6MM qualifying-offer deadline.
Roster decisions like Dallas’s could affect players’ careers and families, fans’ attachment to the team, and the Mavs’ competitive balance. Trade rumors may weigh on athletes’ mental health, as Irving noted, while front-office moves could shape ticket demand and local business activity around games. The outcomes remain uncertain and depend on negotiations, performance, and league rules.