Mavericks waive Poulakidas and Lundy with Powell’s future unresolved

The Mavericks waived guards John Poulakidas and Seth Lundy on Saturday, opening a two-way contract spot while leaving another roster decision to settle before Monday’s deadline.

Dallas announced the cuts after finishing its preseason Friday. Poulakidas had occupied one of the team’s three two-way slots; Lundy came to camp on an Exhibit 10 deal. Jett Howard and Tobi Lawal remain on two-way contracts, according to Dallas Sports Journal’s Grant Afseth.

The team’s announcement:

The distinction matters for Dwight Powell. Dallas still has 16 players on standard contracts, one above the regular-season limit, Afseth and Hoops Rumors’ Luke Adams reported. Removing a two-way player does not reduce that number. Powell’s future therefore remains unresolved by Saturday’s cuts.

Powell is the only player among those 16 whose salary is not fully guaranteed, according to Afseth. His guarantee increases from $1 million to $1.5 million if he makes the opening-night roster. Keeping him would require Dallas to clear another standard contract. The Mavericks have not announced that additional move.

Poulakidas leaves after a productive shooting night

Poulakidas scored 16 points against New Orleans on Wednesday, making four of eight attempts from 3-point range in Dallas’ 101-97 loss. His departure comes three days after that performance.

Across three preseason appearances, he averaged seven points and made 45.5 percent of his threes, the Mavericks said. The club’s release also listed a 50 percent field-goal percentage and 14 minutes per game. His brief Dallas regular-season run last spring was similarly useful from outside: he shot 40.3 percent from three while averaging 8.8 points in 13 games.

Lundy played in all four preseason games, averaging 5.5 points. He made 36.3 percent of his threes, according to the team. Dallas signed him September 26 after previous two-way stints with Atlanta and the Clippers. Saturday’s announcement did not identify a replacement for either departing guard.

Flagg’s third year is secured

Dallas also exercised the third-year rookie-scale option on Cooper Flagg. The option covers the 2027-28 season; it is a separate decision from the roster cuts that affect the coming opener.

Flagg won Rookie of the Year after averaging 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 70 starts last season. The Mavericks’ release noted that he led the team in total points, rebounds, assists and steals.

The Mavericks open Wednesday, October 21, at Houston, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Central. Before then, the front office must settle its standard roster and decide how to use the two-way opening created Saturday.