The Dallas Mavericks agreed to a two-way contract with center Kylor Kelley on Sunday. Dallas needs all of the help they can get at the center position, as Dereck Lively II, Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber are all currently injured.

Not playing Monday vs. Wiz

With the recent injury to Dereck Lively II, let’s reconsider what the Dallas Mavericks’ front office may be thinking as the NBA Trade Deadline approaches.

Roughly a half-hour before the official tweet, the glum tones and winces of Jason Kidd and Daniel Gafford foreshadowed the Mavericks’ latest gulp of sour news. Maxi Kleber’s sudden departure during the third quarter of Saturday’s home loss to Boston,

Powell will miss a second straight game with a right hip strain Wednesday. If Dereck Lively (ankle) joins him on the shelf against Minnesota, Daniel Gafford should dominate the center minutes for the Mavericks while Maxi Kleber likely operates as Dallas' top backup big man off the bench.

Powell (hip) remains out for Saturday's game against the Celtics. Powell will miss a fourth straight game Saturday with a hip strain, and his next chance to suit up for the Mavericks arrives Monday against the Wizards.

Powell logged fewer than 10 minutes for the seventh time in the past eight games, continuing his underwhelming season. At this point, he is basically the fourth-string center in the Mavericks rotation, playing behind Dereck Lively (ankle), Daniel Gafford and Maxi Kleber.

The Dallas Mavericks entered the Queen City with another shorthanded roster for their matinee against the Charlotte Hornets on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The early tip-off was just the start of a back-and-forth tilt between the two teams,