Dallas took a big hit this week when center Dwight Powell went down with a torn Achilles. The Mavericks’ starting center was a critical pick-and-roll partner with Luka Doncic, a roll man and vertical threat that allowed Kristaps Porzingis to space the floor (along with other Dallas shooters), plus Powell was a solid team defender.
Willie Cauley-Stein is going to get a chance to fill that role.
Golden State is trading Cauley-Stein to Dallas for a second-round pick.
Golden State is finalizing a deal to trade C Willie Cauley-Stein to Dallas, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 24, 2020
Dallas is sending Golden State a 2020 second-round pick (via Utah) for Cauley-Stein, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 24, 2020
Dallas just made a trade for Justin Patton to waive him and clear out a roster spot for this trade.
Cauley-Stein is averaging an efficient 7.9 points and 6.2 rebounds a game for Golden State. More importantly for Dallas, he provides the athletic dive man, a threat on the roll they need to keep things open for Doncic.
Dallas could have waited out the market to try and land a better center, but this gives them a reliable fit for minimal cost (a late second-round pick, they kept Golden State’s own second rounder). Cauley-Stein will split time at the five with Kristaps Porzingis, Maxi Kleber, and Boban Marjanovic.
Willie Cauley-Stein is on a two-year minimum contract- $2.17M and $2.28M. The second year has a player option. As a result of the trade, Dallas will waive Justin Patton.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) January 24, 2020
For those of you crunching the numbers at home:
Dallas is acquiring Cauley-Stein with the $11.7M trade exception created from the Harrison Barnes trade last February. The exception is needed because WCS signed for part of the non-tax ML (slightly north of the minimum). Golden State will now have a $2.17M trade exception. https://t.co/1hC38E40Fu
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) January 24, 2020
For Golden State, in the short term, this move creates a couple of open roster spots. One of those likely will be used to re-sign Marquese Chriss, who was waived last week. The other roster spot likely will go to Ky Bowman.
Golden State adds a pick and a trade exception for sending out a player that was not part of their long-term plans anyway.