LOS ANGELES —Dwight Powell remains the most significant free-agent big man available to the Los Angeles Lakers, according to California Post reporter Khobi Price, a day after Los Angeles lost Jonathan Kuminga to the Minnesota Timberwolves on a two-year deal.
Powell celebrated his 35th birthday in July and is currently unsigned. After 12 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, he entered the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
Of the 98 players who have been on a roster with Luka Dončić during his eight NBA seasons, Powell has played the most games with him, totaling 389. Los Angeles is $8.1 million below the NBA’s $209 million first-apron limit, which will hard-cap the franchise for 2026-27. According to Price, 16 players are on guaranteed contracts. Training camp begins next month.
Free-Agent Center Market
The Miami Heat signed Nick Richards to a veteran’s minimum contract Aug. 27. Price listed Drew Eubanks, Bismack Biyombo, and Mason Plumlee as the other realistic free-agent centers still on the board.
Walker Kessler arrived in Los Angeles in a July sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz. Kevon Looney signed a veteran’s minimum contract that same month.
Dwight Powell’s Status in Dallas
Marc Stein reported July 27 in The Stein Line that Powell and his representatives had kept a dialogue open with Dallas. Stein wrote that Powell “has been hoping to play at least one more season.” Dallas carried 16 players on standard contracts at that point, one above the in-season maximum. Guard Brandon Williams was also unsigned.
The Mavericks now list 15 players on standard contracts and two on two-way deals. Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, Santi Aldama, Moussa Cisse, and rookie Morez Johnson Jr. fill out the frontcourt behind Cooper Flagg and P.J. Washington.
Aldama and guard Marcus Sasser came to Dallas by trade this summer. A right knee injury ended Aldama’s 2025-26 season in mid-March, and he underwent an arthroscopic procedure.
Last season, Powell played in 63 games and started 12. He averaged 3.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists over 14.3 minutes, with a shooting percentage of 64.4%.
Over 12 seasons with Dallas, Powell has averaged 6.5 points and 4.3 rebounds in 17.6 minutes. He was traded from the Boston Celtics in December 2014 during his rookie year.
In July 2023, Powell agreed to a three-year, $12 million contract with Dallas, which covered last season.
Dallas finished 26-56, placing 12th in the Western Conference. The Mavericks will start practicing before Sept. 29 due to preseason games scheduled overseas, and their 2026-27 season opener against the Houston Rockets is set for Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT.
