Mavericks pick up option to keep Willie Cauley-Stein

At least one free agent big man is returning to the Dallas Mavericks. The announcedSunday that it picked up the second-season contract option on Willie Cauley-Stein.

According to Spotrac, Cauley-Stein will earn $4.1 million next season. He earned the same amount last season.

Last season, he appeared in 53 games--including 16 starts--and averaged 5.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 17.1 minutes. He also shot a career high 63.2% from the field.

The Mavericks acquired Cauley-Stein from Golden State on Jan. 25, 2020, in exchange for a 2020 second round pick.

Cauley-Stein signed his current contract with the Mavericks on December 1, 2020.

Dallas now has 11 players--including three centers (Kristaps Porzingis is technically listed as a power forward)--under contract for next season as free agency starts to heat up.

The NBA's free agency period begins on August 2 at 6 p.m. ET. Teams can begin signing players on August 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET.