Dwight Powell moved into a different role for the Dallas Mavericks

Dwight Powell shouldn’t be in Dallas. Not in 2024. A throw-in to the Rajon Rondo trade almost TEN YEARS AGO, he was simply included to help match salaries. Of course there was the slight chance he could turn into a useful player, but be honest—no one expects much out of the 45th pick in any draft.

So the fact that Powell has lasted nearly a decade with the Dallas Mavericks is nothing short of a miracle, especially in today’s NBA. It’s a testament to Powell’s skill, work ethic, and determination that he’s been a part of the franchise for so long.

As Luka Doncic lifted the Mavericks to more competitive heights, however, it became clear Powell couldn’t compete with the best bigs in the NBA. If Dallas was going to become a true contender in the Western Conference, they would need to upgrade their front court. They did that in the past season, adding first Dereck Lively II through the draft and Daniel Gafford in a trade. With those two on board, and Maxi Kleber’s continued stellar play, Powell found himself out of the rotation this year.

He only started nine games this year, his lowest since 2016-17, when he only started three games. Similarly, he only averaged 3.3 points per game this season, his lowest since his rookie season. Never a great rebounder, Powell only grabbed 3.4 boards per game this year.

Stats were never really why he was in the game, though. Powell was anchored in the Mavericks rotation for so long because he was always in the places he was supposed to be, and coaches love that. Whether on offense or defense, Powell knew the Dallas scheme like no one else. His chemistry with Doncic on the pick-and-roll was unmatched until Lively and Gafford came along. His screens were effective, and he was hardly ever out of rotation on defense. But he just couldn’t overcome his physical limitations, such as lack of size or explosiveness, when it came to the best teams in the league.

But you can be certain that Powell had a part in Gafford and Lively’s success this season. Doncic’s former lob partner in crime definitely had advice to give to the two new Mavericks big men on how best to play with the Slovenian superstar. The NBA can be brutal to young players, especially those in the front court, and having a veteran who’s been through all the obstacles the league can throw at you was probably invaluable, especially to Lively. As Powell moves into this new role, you can bet he’ll approach it just like he did his playing time—determined and without quit.

Best Game

It came in a loss, but Powell had a big game against the Minnesota Timberwolves back in December. The Mavericks came up short, but Powell scored 12 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and dished out six assists. Seven of those 14 rebounds were on the offensive end. Dallas was missing both Doncic and Kyrie Irving that game, so maybe if just one was available, the Mavericks could’ve pulled off the win with some assistance by Powell.

Contract Status

Powell has two years left on his contract, which pays $4 million per year. The last year is a player option, which almost surely pick up. It’s the perfect deal for a player like Powell.

Looking Ahead

More than likely, Powell will be back with the Mavericks next year. He provides some big man depth, as well as a voice of leadership on the roster. If for some reason Dallas needs to include him in a trade to make salaries match, they’ll probably reluctantly do it. But it’s doubtful any other team will come to the Mavericks asking for Powell specifically, so expect to see him on the bench next year.

Grade: B+

As he’s done his whole career, Powell did what the Mavericks ask him to do for the success of the team. This year, it meant being ready to play when Lively, Gafford, or Kleber were out, and providing veteran leadership from the bench. He did both admirably, and Dallas would be lucky to have him back in the same role next season.