3 Mavericks Who Could Be Playing Their Last Game in Dallas
By Cem Yolbulan
Dwight Powell
This one will surely hurt Mavericks fans. Dwight Powell is a fan favorite who has been with the team since 2014. Over the last ten years, he has been a constant source of stability and veteran leadership. He is generally well-liked by everyone in the organization.
At the same time, he has been steadily declining over the past couple of seasons. His role was significantly diminished this season as he only played 13.3 minutes per game, averaging 3.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
Now that the team has Dereck Lively, PJ Washington, and Daniel Gafford in the frontcourt, there simply isn't room for Powell. He has entirely fallen out of rotation in the playoffs, even when there are injuries or foul trouble. He is too slow on the defensive end and he doesn't have the athleticism to finish around the rim anymore.
There was a point in time when Powell was an excellent pick-and-roll partner to Luka Doncic. He could finish alley-oop passes and be an effective rim runner. About to turn 33, he is no longer that.
Powell has two more seasons on his deal, paying him $4 million per year. That is not a ton of money, especially for a beloved locker room presence. However, wasting a roster spot and a salary over the veteran's minimum for a player who will not see the court for you is not a great idea. Taking a flyer on a young big with upside makes more sense for Dallas.
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