SAN FRANCISCO _ The Warriors have agreed to trade center Willie Cauley-Stein to the Dallas Mavericks, league sources confirmed with Bay Area News Group. The deal was first reported by ESPN.
Dallas will send Utah's 2020 second-round pick to the Warriors.
Cauley-Stein, 26, signed a two-year $4.4 million deal with a player option for the second season with Golden State last summer. In 41 games (37 starts), Cauley-Stein averaged 7.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 blocks in 22.9 minutes per game.
The move frees up an additional roster spot for the Warriors and $2.57 million in space under the hard cap. Now with two open roster spots, Golden State could use the cap space to promote both two-way contract players _ guard Ky Bowman or center Marquese Chriss _ to standard contracts, if they so choose. Bowman has three days of NBA service remaining of his 45 day allotment, while Chriss has 20.
The Warriors will also gain a $2.17 million trade exception, which they could use to acquire a player via trade without sending back matching salary. The trade exception expires one year from the date it was created.
Without Cauley-Stein, who started the last four games, Omari Spellman and Chriss, and possibly rookie Alen Smailagic, will absorb his minutes at center. Kevon Looney remains sidelined with an abdominal strain, and there is no timetable for his return.
Earlier on Friday, the Mavericks traded rookie Isaiah Roby to the Thunder for center Justin Patton, who they will waive to clear a roster spot for Cauley-Stein. For Dallas, they acquire a center after Dwight Powell suffered a season-ending Achilles tear against the Clippers this week.
