Mavericks big man Dwight Powell has suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon, the team announced in a press release. When Powell left Tuesday’s game with an Achilles injury, there was a fear that it would be a season-ending tear, and tests today confirmed as much.
According to the Mavs, Powell is currently weighing surgical options and updates will be provided as appropriate. It’s safe to say the 28-year-old will miss the rest of this season, and there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready to go for the start of the 2020/21 campaign, since recovery from an Achilles tear can take upwards of a full calendar year.
It’s a tough blow for the Mavericks, who were leaning heavily on Powell as their starting center alongside power forward Kristaps Porzingis. The former second-round pick has averaged 9.4 PPG and 5.7 RPG with a .638 FG% and solid interior defense in 40 games (37 starts) for Dallas this season. His 26.5 minutes per contest represented a career high.
The Mavs have some assets that could be used in a trade to acquire another center if they want to find a short-term fix. Those assets include a pair of 2020 second-round picks – including the Warriors’ second-rounder – as well as Courtney Lee‘s expiring contract and a trade exception worth nearly $12MM.
Dallas won’t be able to apply for a disabled player exception for extra cap flexibility. The deadline to request a DPE was January 15.
For now, the Mavs will likely rely on Porzingis, Maxi Kleber, and Boban Marjanovic to take on increased roles in their frontcourt, with forwards like Dorian Finney-Smith and Justin Jackson perhaps spending more time at the four.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Damn. That’s sucks.
WCS is sitting in SF waiting for a phone call. GSW will let him go cheapest of there trade assets, and while he wont totally replace Powell, for the price he should be worth it.
dallas wants a floor spacing center.
Dallas doesnt need another big. They need a defensive wing. Porzingis needs to step up at the 5
He sure looks to have the height to play as a stretch 5.
Trade with Portland for Whiteside.
dallas would need to use their TPE on a player like marvin williams who is making close to 12million i think. then combined him and lee and send to blazers for whiteside… to make salaries match. i wish we could go after aldridge or myles turner.
Even before Powell got hurt, I felt like Dallas’ most pressing need was a center (a defensive/rebounding athletic big). I believe they’d be much better if they had Dwight Howard or DeAndre Jordon playing for 20 minutes instead of Powell. Powell was averaging less than 8 rebounds per 36 minutes. I hope the Mavs can get a Derrick Favors, or Mason Plumlee, or Dwight Howard this off-season. I’d like to see them trade for Hassan Whiteside or Steven Adams or Tristan Thompson if they can get them for a second rounder plus salaries. Porzingis’ career will go much better if he plays next to this kind of center. Luka may not need that kind of center, but if they expect KP to carry the team for 15 minutes while Luka’s on the bench, the Mavs are gonna need this kind of center.