The Mavericks play their preseason home opener Wednesday night against New Orleans, but more importantly will be just one week away from the regular-season lid-lifter.
Much work is yet to be done, including finalizing the roster, and there appears to be only one legitimate question about who makes it.
And, really, it’s a simple question: Will Dwight Powell help the Mavericks win more games than somebody else on the roster?
Actually, it might not be that easy of an answer.
Powell signed a one-year, make-good contract. There are 15 other Mavericks with guaranteed deals. A couple of them are fighting to make the final roster. Excluding the players on two-way deals, those seeking the 15th spot on the roster likely include Powell. Moussa Cissé, Seth Lundy (non-guaranteed) and perhaps Caleb Martin, although his contract ($10-million, plus a player option for 2027-28) might preclude any move involving him unless it is a trade.
Powell has been a Maverick since the middle of the 2014-15 season. He’s got more tenure than just about anybody on the basketball side of the organization. He is loyal to the franchise. He is a trusted voice in the locker room. He has played on good teams and bad ones.
And he’s the only person on the planet who can say he played with Dirk Nowitzki, Luka Doncic and Cooper Flagg.
All of that’s great. But the NBA is an upgrade business based on what have you done for me lately.
OK, Powell played in 64 games last season and started 12 of them. As recently as Sunday in China, Powell played 15 minutes. He had just three points and five rebounds, but the Mavericks were a healthy plus-14 in his time on the floor.
“When you watch the game, it’s fairly obvious his ability to connect and keep the group organized,” coach Dusty May said after the Mavericks’ two-game trip to China. “When you look at the age of, especially our second unit, Sergio (de Larrea) and Max (Christie) and all these young guys, it just gives us another pressure release and outlet. He generates great looks. He’s a very smart basketball player.”
Before the Mavericks left on their cross-global trip, May had said that Powell “could be a coach.” Clearly, the 6-10, 35-year-old Canadian isn’t ready for that. But it’s a virtual certainty that there’s a role in the Mavericks’ organization for him once he does retire as a player.
But he’s giving every indication that he can still help a team on the court. And in the locker room.
“So there are a number of different components to the development of young players,” May said. “Putting him out there with guys, trying to assist them, make them better, screen well for them, it (his playing time in China) is just a decision where we felt we are playing well with him on the floor. We’re very, very comfortable.”
In the first game in China, Powell had eight assists in 13 minutes against the Rockets. He’s simply got good basketball sense about what a team needs to have a chance to win.
And, have we mentioned, he’s great in the locker room mentoring young players and helping prop up veterans who need it.
Or kick anybody in the pants when needed.
Powell and the Mavericks will try to shake off the jet lag when they face the Pelicans on Wednesday evening.
Here’s what else to look for:
- May will be coaching at home for the first time with the Mavericks. He has seemed right at home in the first two exhibitions and hopes to welcome back at least somebody from the group that missed Sunday’s game: Morez Johnson Jr., Santi Aldama, Marcus Sasser, John Poulakidas or Dereck Lively II.
- The Pelicans have beaten Oklahoma City at Tulsa and lost at Miami so far in the preseason. They have revamped their roster a bit with Bennedict Mathurin joining them as a free agent and with returning talent like Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole, Zion Williamson and Derek Queen, who was one of the most impressive rookies in the league last season. They also have former Baylor standout Yves Missi, who is trying to rebound from a somewhat disappointing second season after a great rookie-year start to his career.
- The Mavericks will close out the preseason on Friday at AAC against Atlanta.
Preseason: New Orleans Pelicans (1-1, preseason) vs. Dallas Mavericks (1-1, preseason)
WHEN: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas
TICKETS: Mavs.com/Tickets
TV: KFAA-29, MavsTV+, NBA TV
RADIO: 105.3 The Fan
X: @ESefko