Shocking Update: Three (3) Contracts will be Waived by the Dallas Mavericks over the Offseason
The NBA All-Star break has come and gone, and the Dallas Mavericks are now 33-23 after their 123-113 win over the Phoenix Suns last night.
This was the fourth game that Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington had played in since being acquired by the Mavs, and both players continue to prove that they are great fits next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Their defense and rebounding must not go unnoticed, and Washington is turning into Dallas’ defensive stopper that they desperately needed.
3 Contracts the Dallas Mavericks must shed during the offseason
While the Mavs are in a great spot, and they have been able to shed several bad contracts over the last few months, there are still a few contracts that they may look to move this summer. This roster looks like they can go contend right now, but things can change quickly.
Here are three contracts that the Dallas Mavericks may look to shed this summer.
3. Dwight Powell
Before trading for Daniel Gafford, the Dallas Mavericks heavily relied on Dwight Powell. He was playing on a nightly basis and even started in eight games.
Since the trade, Powell has hardly been playing, and his $4 million annually from the contract he signed last summer is not ideal for a third-string center. He has not been playing the best this season either, and this type of money for a player who is not in the rotation is not ideal.
$4 million annually over the next few years is not awful, but it’s not great either. The Mavs now have a dynamic center duo of Gafford and Dereck Lively II, and his services aren’t needed as much. Powell has started over 250 games for the Mavs in his career, and he would be dearly missed, but his play has declined.
Powell remains a great leader and always brings great vibes, but he could be someone that Dallas looks to move if they try to free up some money this summer.
2. Tim Hardaway Jr.
Dallas Mavericks fans have had a love-hate relationship with Tim Hardaway Jr. over the last couple of seasons.
Hardaway Jr. came to Dallas as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade during the 2018-19 season, and he has been a great, but unreliable role player for the team. As a Mav, he has career averages of 15.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.6 steals per game. He has taken his defense up a notch this year as he has become excellent at drawing charges, but his overall defense remains a concern.
Hardaway Jr. struggles on the perimeter despite being a solid athlete, and he can’t be relied upon to guard elite offensive players. He gives up what he gives on the offensive end, but his offense has been something that has been crucial for Dallas for multiple seasons.
He is an excellent 3-point shooter, and he scores in bunches. When Hardaway Jr. gets hot from downtown, he is difficult to stop. The Mavs typically win when he has a good shooting night, but his unreliability is not ideal.
Hardaway Jr.’s contract expires next summer, and he is set to make just under $16.2 million next season. He could be an attractive asset for another contender, and the Mavs could look to move him this summer, considering that they were reportedly trying to move him last summer.
1. Maxi Kleber
When the Dallas Mavericks extended Maxi Kleber’s contract after the 2022 NBA Playoffs and before the 2022-23 season, it seemed like a move that was going to benefit the team in a massive way. He averaged 8.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 43.6 percent from downtown, and was extremely productive on both ends for Dallas.
Since that extension, Kleber has not been as productive for Dallas (despite his excellent play as of late). This season for the Mavs, Kleber is averaging 5.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.8 blocks per game. His defense has finally improved since struggling at the beginning of the season, but if he doesn’t keep up this level of play, he could be someone who the Mavs look to trade.
Kleber is set to make $11 million per year until the end of the 2025-26 season, and this contract could become a bad one if he can’t stay healthy or isn’t playing up to the level that the Mavs need him to.
All signs are pointing to Kleber being on the way to returning to the player he once was, and the trade for Daniel Gafford was huge for Dallas as it allowed Kleber to move back to power forward while also playing some center when needed.
Leave a Reply