Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[F Gump]

Powell's contract isn't guaranteed.  Pretty simple.

In this case, I don't think the money matters. I think it will come down to who the team wants the most.

Both players are min salary. Both have some guarantee, but not big money. 

SCENARIO 1 - Cisse is waived, then claimed by another team off waivers (at min salary, the ideal contract for a team that wants him). Mavs cap cost would be $0. 
SCENARIO 2 - Cisse is waived, and is not claimed. The Mavs cap cost would be $2.2M.
...But then the Mavs have a good shot at still keeping him if they want him, by signing him as a 2-way, since he would have no teams wanting him on a regular NBA deal. Of course, this means Mavs would be waiving a different 2-way player (Lawal, Poulakidis, Howard) so that's not a sure thing.
SCENARIO 3 - Powell is waived. Very unlikely he is claimed. The Mavs cap cost would be $1M.