Dusty May says Dwight Powell has been ‘very valuable’ — but won’t say if he’s forced a Mavericks roster spot

DALLAS — Oct. 14, 2026 — Dusty May will not say whether Dwight Powell has already forced his way onto the Dallas Mavericks’ opening-night roster. What the first-year coach will say, on camera and without hedging, is that the 11-season Maverick has been “very valuable,” that the team “function[s] well” when he is on the floor, and that deciding his fate is someone else’s fray.

“Those questions I can’t answer,” May said when asked how close Powell is to locking down the 15th roster spot. “Dwight has been very valuable so far to us. I think it’s evident, when he’s on the floor, we function well. It’s been a joy to get to know him and be around him. I try to stay out of that fray, deciding those types of things, but Dwight, he’s been very, very good for us.”

Mavericks coach Dusty May on how close Dwight Powell is to forcing himself on the Mavericks roster:

“Those questions I can’t answer…Dwight has been very valuable so far to us. I think it’s evident, when he’s on the floor, we function well. It’s been a joy to get to know him and… pic.twitter.com/J5cygqFOYm

— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) October 14, 2026

Why the 15th spot is still open

Dallas still carries 16 players on standard contracts and must waive someone or complete a consolidation trade before the regular-season opener next week. Powell, 35, returned on a partially guaranteed deal and has been fighting for that last spot against younger bigs, most notably Moussa Cissé, whose roughly $2.2 million salary became fully guaranteed after the Oct. 1 deadline.

That math looked grim for Powell until preseason. With Dereck Lively II still recovering from foot surgery and lottery pick Morez Johnson Jr. resting in spots, May has given Powell the bulk of backup-center minutes ahead of Cissé. Through the Macao exhibitions alone, Powell logged 28 minutes to Cissé’s 21 and posted four points, six rebounds and 10 assists across those two games — the connector profile May keeps describing.

The second-unit argument

May’s earlier postgame answer after the Houston win in Macao sketched the same case with more basketball detail. He said he is “very, very comfortable” using Powell because of “his ability to connect and keep the group organized,” and because the second unit’s age — Sergio de Larrea, Max Christie and other young wings — needs a pressure release.

“He generates great looks. He’s a very smart veteran basketball player,” May said then. “Putting him out there with guys who he is trying to assist, 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.”

Marc Stein has framed the crunch bluntly: releasing Cissé after matching a July offer sheet and allowing the guarantee to vest once looked “highly unlikely… until hearing May gush over Powell’s play.” A trade to open a spot would be even harder this close to opening night. Powell has already waived his right to block a later move if Dallas keeps him, which removes one contractual obstacle without solving the head-count problem.

Who actually decides

May made clear that coaches can argue need, but the final call sits with president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri and general manager Mike Schmitz. That is why his presser answer stays carefully split: full-throated praise for Powell’s value, zero commitment on the roster cut.

Powell remains the franchise’s longest-tenured player, dating to a 2015 deadline deal. Last season he played 63 games (12 starts) at a little over 14 minutes a night for 3.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists on 64.4 percent shooting. The Mavericks host the New Orleans Pelicans in a home preseason game with Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving resting, then close the exhibition slate Friday — two more looks before Ujiri and Schmitz have to choose between the veteran organizer and the young center they just guaranteed.

More on WhyNBA: Dwight Powell gives up trade veto as he fights for a Mavericks roster spot.