Mavs’ Dwight Powell Intends to Turn Down $10.2 Million Player Option

Dwight Powell with Canadian national team. Photo by Canadian Press/REX/Shutterstock

It seems like Dallas Mavericks’ Dwight Powell is hitting the open market this summer. According to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes, Powell decided to turn down his player option for 2019/20, which makes him a free agent come July.

Powell signed a four-year, $37 million contract with the Mavs in 2016 and was projected to earn $10.2 million next season. Still, the 27-year-old big man elected to try and get a more lucrative contract after a successful season in which he was one of Dallas’ key rotational players. He ended the season averaging 10.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

While it is highly unlikely that someone will give Dwight Powell a contract that exceeds the $10.2 million for 2019/20, he could command a multi-year deal that offers him both long term security and more money down the road.

Sources around the league report that Powell will have multiple suitors once the free agency kicks off, but he is expected to strongly consider staying in Dallas. Mavericks have enough cap space to treat him with a generous offer and might decide he is a better option than anything they could get in the free agency.

Powell started his career with the Boston Celtics as a second-round draft pick in 2014, before being shipped to Dallas in a trade that involved Rajon Rondo. After initial struggles with the Mavs, he established himself as an important bench player for the team. His NBA career averages include 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.