Dwight Powell admitted that it’s been a strange week since J.J. Barea and the Mavericks agreed to waive the popular veteran guard.
Powell was the Maverick that Barea singled out as a likely candidate to emerge as a locker-room leader now that Barea is weighing his options for which other team to join.
“It’s been weird, I’m not going to lie,” Powell said Friday. “It’s probably a really emotional period for J.J. We spoke that first day when he made his announcement. I’ve kind of given him his space since then.”
With regard to taking the baton as a team leader, Powell has mixed feelings about that. He is more than willing and happy to do what he can, but he knows that the void is large.
“He was loved by everyone here and he had such a powerful, impactful presence through the many years he spent here, both on and off the court – within this organization and the city at large,” Powell said. “They’re massive shoes to fill.
“But he taught me a lot of great things both on and off the court. I’m going to do my best to step into that role in my own way and try to help this team be successful and help guide these guys any way I can.”
Powell, by the way, is eager for the start of the regular season, which will be his first official action since tearing his Achilles tendon in January.
“I think we’re ready,” Powell said. “We’re all on the same page as far as what we want to do and how we need to get it done and things we need to work on.
“We learned a lot of lessons through this constricted preseason and training camp. We’ll continue to try to do the things we do well even better and just move forward.”
The Mavericks will have practice again on Saturday, get an off day on Sunday, practice Monday and Tuesday, then leave for Wednesday’s season opener at Phoenix.
Pair waived: The Mavericks pared the roster to 18 players on Friday by waiving Devonte Patterson and Freddie Gillespie.
Both players were signed as undrafted free agents on Dec. 1 and will become unrestricted free agents when they clear waivers.
The Mavericks will have to trim one more player before Monday to get down to the roster limit of 15 players, plus a pair of two-way players.
Gillespie (6-9, 245) saw action in the preseason opener and had two points and a rebound in six minutes.
Patterson (6-7, 205) played in two of the three exhibitions and amassed three points and an assist in six minutes.
Porzingis update: Kristaps Porzingis continues to ramp up his physical activity on a daily basis.
Coach Rick Carlisle said that the 7-3 center did 5-on-zero drills and non-contact drills on Friday.
Porzingis has been recovering from meniscus surgery on his right knee in October. He suffered the injury during the playoff series against the Clippers in August.
He will join the Mavericks on the three-game road trip to Phoenix and Los Angeles, primarily to be available to do whatever he can during the practice session(s) the Mavericks may have on the trip.
Twitter: @ESefko
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