Mavs Waive Dwight Powell, End 12-Year Run in Dallas

The Dallas Mavericks have waived veteran forward/center Dwight Powell ahead of Monday's roster deadline.

After his contract expired last season, Powell was welcomed back to take part in the team's training camp, but the new front office leadership of president Masai Ujiri and general manager Mike Schmitz ultimately decided to move into a new, younger era.

Powell, 35, was the Mavericks' longest-tenured player as his career in Dallas spanned across the Dirk Nowitzki, Luka Doncic and Cooper Flagg eras.

"Dwight was the consummate professional throughout his 12 seasons with the Mavericks & embodies everything you want in someone representing your organization," Ujiri said.

"He’s a tireless worker, an incredible teammate and someone whose impact extends well beyond the basketball court and into the Dallas community. We are grateful for everything Dwight has contributed to this franchise. He will always be part of the Mavericks family & Dallas will always be a home for him. We wish him nothing but the best in this next chapter."

Powell's place on the new-look roster, led by first-year head coach Dusty May, came down to competition for Dallas' frontcourt depth between him and Moussa Cisse, the second-year center whose two-way contract was restructured into a standard deal by the end of his rookie season.

Cisse's free-agent offer sheet was matched by the Mavs this offseason, keeping him in Dallas on a fully-guaranteed deal. That reality made it hard for the team to find room for Powell without making another roster change.

Powell has spent the majority of his 12-year career in Dallas after his trade from the Boston Celtics as a rookie in the 2014-15 season.

Last year, Powell averaged 3.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game across 63 appearances (12 starts).

Powell ranks fifth in Mavericks history in games played with 763 - behind Dirk Nowitzki, Brad Davis, Derek Harper and Rolando Blackman. Powell is sixth in Mavs history in rebounds, fourth in career field-goal percentage and third in career two-point field goal percentage.

The Mavs' roster now sits at 17 total players, including a pair of two-way contracts, ahead of Wednesday's regular-season opener at the Houston Rockets.