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Dallas Mavericks: 2016 Offseason Grades

By Gerald Bourguet

Dec 1, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Deron Williams (8) celebrates with forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) after scoring during overtime against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Mavericks won 115-112. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 1, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Deron Williams (8) celebrates with forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) after scoring during overtime against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Mavericks won 115-112. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dallas Mavericks
Dec 26, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dwight Powell (7) shoots over Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich (12) during the second half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Powell Payday

As the lone silver lining from that disastrous Rajon Rondo trade, Dwight Powell somewhat proved his worth last season. The basic stat sheet numbers wouldn’t indicate this, but the potential of this 25-year-old may be worth the investment of his four-year, $37 million contract extension.

Though he only averaged 5.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game on the year, Powell got off to a tremendous start for the 2015-16 campaign before Carlisle began to phase him out of a crowded rotation.

Through the month of December, Powell was putting up 8.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 18.6 minutes per game while shooting 52.5 percent from the floor. After the New Year, however, Powell’s opportunities were fewer and farer between. His numbers plummeted to 4.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 10.9 minutes per game.

The arrivals of JaVale McGee and David Lee, plus the revelation of Salah Mejri, meant there was a crunch for minutes in the frontcourt, but if Powell is able to prove himself to Carlisle and hopefully start knocking down some jumpers, he’ll be a source of bench energy and athleticism once again.

That being said, Powell was a restricted free agent and wasn’t expected to command such a sizable contract on the market. To hand one on a silver platter is a slightly bizarre, unless the front office was seriously concerned some other suitor would swoop in with a Timofey Mozgov-esque offer.

Powell is a hard-working player with room to grow, but playing him $9 million a year over the next four seasons — not to mention giving him the leverage of a player option in the final year — is a bit of a head-scratcher.

Grade: C+

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