Dallas Mavericks center Dwight Powell ruptured his right Achilles tendon last Tuesday. After weighing his options, Powell decided to undergo surgery to fix the injury. There is no timetable for his return:
Obviously, Dwight Powell will miss the remainder of the 2019-20 season. His loss is definitely a blow for a Mavs team that is looking to not only get to the postseason, but try to make some noise in the franchise's first playoff appearance since 2016.
Powell fell to the floor on a non-contact play while driving to the basket in the first quarter of their 110-107 defeat at the hands of the LA Clippers. The Toronto native instantly writhed in agony as he laid on the floor.
The 6-foot-10 high-flyer is a huge part of what Dallas is doing. Powell has established great chemistry with Mavs superstar Luka Doncic, becoming an outstanding pick-and-roll partner for the Slovenian sensation.
Prior to going down with the injury, Powell was putting up solid numbers as the starting center. In 40 games, the Stanford product averaged 9.4 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 63.8 percent from the field.
Because of Dwight Powell's season-ending injury, the Mavs immediately took action and acquired Willie Cauley-Stein from the Golden State Warriors. WCS should instantly slot into Powell's role as a roll man alongside Doncic and a capable rim protector on defense.
The Mavs are currently tied for fifth place in the Western Conference standings with a 29-17 record. With the West as tight and as competitive as ever, look for Dallas to be active buyers ahead of the upcoming Feb. 6 trade deadline.