NBA salary cap exercise: What player would every team amnesty?
By Corey Rausch
Dallas Mavericks – Dwight Powell
This may be cold-hearted. Honestly, nothing about this feels good. It is clear how important Dwight Powell was to the Dallas Mavericks before the injury. But taking all feelings out of it this is the cut that makes the most sense.
The risk-averse decision is to cut Dwight Powell now while he is still owed a tremendous amount of money. He is slated to make $10.2 million next year, $11 million in 2021-2022 and $11.8 million in 2022-2023. The Mavericks’ payroll next year will be $108.2 million, leaving them little room to improve the roster they have this season. Part of building around Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis will undoubtedly require free agency.
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They do not have their pick in 2021 and likely will be without it in 2023. Without the ability to add young, cheap talent through the draft consistently they have to cut corners wherever they can. That is unfortunately too much money to spend on a 29-year-old center coming off a ruptured right Achilles.
There is likely no cut on this list that feels this tough to make. The injury was devastating when it happened and has a chance to truly change the course of Powell’s career just as it was starting to get on track.