Dwight Powell left the Mavericks' roster on September 21 and was back by September 25, still fighting for one of the final spots on a crowded frontcourt. Last season's numbers show exactly what he offers in a shrinking role: elite efficiency, almost no shots, and two lineup samples that outscored opponents by double digits.
A Shrinking Role
Powell played 63 games last season but averaged just 14.4 minutes, his smallest workload in years, with 3.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists a night. He briefly left the Mavericks' roster on September 21 before rejoining four days later, and Mavs.com reported this week that he and others are competing for the final roster spots heading into the Pelicans game. At 35 and in his 12th season, that fight for a spot is no small thing for a player who has been a rotation regular for most of his career. He is not on the injury report.
Efficient When He's In
The box score explains why Dallas keeps finding room for him. Powell shot 64.4 percent from the field and 69.6 percent from the line, producing a 69.9 percent true shooting mark on a usage rate of just 8.4 percent. He barely creates offense of his own, with an assist rate of 9.5 percent, but he grabs 13.6 percent of available rebounds when he's on the floor. That is a screen-and-finish profile, not a scoring one.
The Case For Keeping Him
Two small lineup samples back up the fit. Powell alongside Caleb Martin, Naji Marshall, Max Christie and Cooper Flagg outscored opponents by 32 points over 46 minutes last season, and a second group with Marshall, Christie, Flagg and RJ Nembhard was plus-11.8 over 41 minutes. The Smoking Cuban reported that coach Dusty May's own comments on Powell point to the same conclusion: he is still in the mix to make this roster. At 35, Powell's case is not for more shots or more minutes. It is for staying the low-usage, high-efficiency screener who makes other people's lineups work.
Will Dwight Powell make the Mavericks' roster this season?
He briefly left the roster on September 21 before rejoining on September 25, and Mavs.com reported he is still competing for a final spot. The Smoking Cuban reported that coach Dusty May's comments suggest he remains in the mix.
What does Dwight Powell do for the Mavericks?
He is a low-usage frontcourt reserve who shot 64.4 percent from the field and posted a 69.9 percent true shooting mark last season on just an 8.4 percent usage rate. He screens, rolls and rebounds rather than scores.
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