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Mavericks clear roster spots, signal intent to reshape depth chart
The Dallas Mavericks waived guards Seth Lundy and John Poulakidas, the team announced, streamlining its roster ahead of Monday’s regular season deadline. Lundy, on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 deal, and Poulakidas, holding one of Dallas’ three two-way slots, are now free to sign elsewhere or join the G League. The moves suggest the Mavericks are prioritizing roster composition over both players, despite Poulakidas’ strong late-season and preseason performance.
The Lundy situation: depth chart reality
Lundy has struggled to gain traction in the NBA despite his draft pedigree. The 2023 46th overall pick appeared in just nine regular season games across his first two seasons with Atlanta and LA, battling left ankle issues that limited his availability. He showed some life in Dallas’ preseason run, appearing in all four games, but the ankle concerns and limited track record made him expendable. Lundy is expected to land with the Texas Legends, the Mavericks’ G League affiliate, where he can develop and potentially earn a path back to the NBA.
Poulakidas waiver: the puzzle piece that didn’t fit
The Poulakidas cut is the more curious move. He signed a two-year, two-way deal with Dallas in March and produced solid numbers down the stretch—8.8 points and 2.3 rebounds in 13 games—while hitting 40.3% from three. In the preseason, he was even more impressive, scoring 21 points across three games while connecting on five three-pointers. Despite that floor spacing and shooting ability, the Mavericks decided his two-way slot could be better deployed elsewhere, signaling they may be hunting for different skill sets or guard depth in the coming days.
Roster compliance and the Powell decision looms
These cuts move Dallas closer to roster compliance but don’t solve the immediate puzzle. The Mavericks now carry 18 players under contract—16 on standard deals and two on two-way agreements—but still need to sort out Dwight Powell’s partially guaranteed contract ($1 million guaranteed). If Dallas keeps Powell, a fully guaranteed player will need to be moved or cut by Monday to meet the NBA’s roster rules. The team’s next 72 hours will determine whether it trades, waives, or makes additional roster decisions to finalize the depth chart.
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