The Mavericks have given Dwight Powell a training-camp invite, and that feels like the right call for a player who has given Dallas so much over 12 seasons.
At 35, Powell is well past the point where anyone should expect the old version of him to reappear. He made his name as a lob-finishing big who rebounded, ran the floor and played with relentless energy, but that kind of game usually fades quickly in the NBA. Since tearing his Achilles tendon in 2020, his role and impact have steadily declined, and he’s now at the stage where he wouldn’t have a place on the Mavericks if he were already on the 15-man roster.
Still, Dallas should let him take the court in camp and compete if that’s what he wants. Plenty of players in his spot would have walked away or taken their game overseas by now. Powell has chosen to keep going, even after his role has been minimal over the past three seasons, and he has remained a steady mentor and locker room presence for younger players.
His loyalty to the Mavericks has been one of the defining themes of his career. He’s now moving into his third front office and third head coach, and he’s been there through the Dirk Nowitzki era, the Luka Doncic era, and now the Cooper Flagg era. That kind of staying power is unusual for any player, but especially for someone whose job has always been tied to the margins of the rotation.
There was a time when fans wanted Dallas to move on from Powell as the starting center because he was never much of a rim protector. That conversation has long since passed. These days, a lot of Mavericks fans appreciate him for the work he has done in the community and the professionalism he has shown every step of the way.
Powell’s place on the roster still looks unlikely, and the Mavericks should not force the issue unless he has a standout camp. They already have four better centers ahead of him and a crowded frontcourt. But giving him a chance to fight for a spot is the least Dallas could do for a player who has been such a steady part of the franchise for so long.
If this does end up being Powell’s last run with the Mavericks, he at least gets one more shot to show he belongs in the league. And after everything he has given Dallas, that opportunity is deserved.
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Kyrie Irving Just Took On A Role The Mavericks Desperately Need
Kyrie Irving is already leaning into a different kind of responsibility for Dallas, one that goes beyond shot-making and late-game creation. After hosting a player-led minicamp for the Mavericks, he is stepping into the kind of leadership role the organization has been waiting for, especially with a young roster that could use a steady veteran voice as it tries to grow into a playoff contender.
What makes this especially notable is the timing. Irving is expected to be Dallas primary veteran leader on and off the court in the 2026-27 season, and it will be his first full run in that role after injuries and roster circumstances kept that possibility from fully taking shape before. For a team that needs both direction and accountability, his experience may end up mattering as much as anything he does with the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Kyrie Irvings Mavericks Future Still Hangs Over Dallas Entering Camp
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For now, Dallas is planning as if Irving will be part of the picture when camp opens, even with the uncertainty that usually follows a season of change. His situation is fluid enough that the team would listen if he wanted a move, and the broader question is how long the current balance holds if the Mavericks stumble early or Irvings view of his future starts to shift. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Roster Crunch Just Made The Klay Thompson Move Harder To Explain
The Mavericks offseason already looked a little unusual after they bought out Klay Thompson and let him land with the Miami Heat, and the roster math around the move has only gotten tighter since then. Dallas is carrying a full roster, which means every addition now comes with a consequence, and that has turned even modest depth decisions into a small puzzle for the front office.
Dwight Powells name is back in the conversation, with Dallas looking at him for training camp as a possible competitor for a spot. The catch is simple: bringing him in would force the Mavericks to clear room by waiving someone else, which is why the Thompson buyout keeps drawing second-guessing. Once a move creates that kind of squeeze, it gets harder to explain why the team chose it in the first place. [Read more 🡒]