Mavericks rumors: Preseason surprise making final roster decision even more daunting. Could there be a trade?

On the morning of their Media Day on September 25, the Dallas Mavericks signed veteran Dwight Powell to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract for the 2026-26 NBA season. However, the Mavs already have 15 standard contracts on their roster, and Powell has played a big role in their two preseason games in Macau thus far.

Those performances also earned the 25-year-old some choice praise from head coach Dusty May, per The Athletic's Christian Clark. May revealed exactly why he chose to hand over the majority of the backup center minutes to Powell, claiming that his impact goes beyond what he produces on the court.

"When you watch the game, it's fairly obvious his ability to connect and keep the group organized," he said. "When you look at the age of — especially our second unit — Segio and Max and all these young guys, it just gives us another pressure release and outlet. He generates great looks. He's a very smart veteran basketball player."

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While May has started the Mavericks No. 9 pick of the 2026 draft Morez Johnson Jr. at Center in the two preseason games thus far, Powell has received considerable minutes off the bench. He played 13 minutes in the first game against the Houston Rockets, adding one point and eight assists and one block.

In the second game against Houston, Powell earned 15 minutes, contributing three points, five rebounds and an assist for his team. However, as May pointed out, his presence also proves to be a positive for the younger players in the Mavs' roster.

"So there are a number of different components to the development of young players," he said. Putting him out there with guys who (he) is trying to assist them, make them better, screen well for them. It's just a decision where we felt like we are playing well with him on the floor. We're very, very comfortable."

Hence, it will be interesting to see whether Powell ends up joining the Mavericks roster for the upcoming season. Per The Stein Line, Powell has also reportedly waived his right to block trades, meaning Dallas could trade him between Dec. 25 and the Feb. 11 deadline if he secures the 15th roster spot. However, keeping him would require the Mavericks to make room, potentially by releasing Moussa Cissé, whose $2.2 million salary became fully guaranteed after Dallas retained him beyond Oct. 1, or by arranging a trade.