Mavs vs. Pelicans Preview: Should Dwight Powell Make The Final Roster?

This Wednesday night preseason game - the Dallas Mavs' home debut - is largely about new guys and their chemistry and young guys and their chance to make the roster.

But there is one "old guy'' in the spotlight, too.

As Eddie Sefko at Mavs.com asks ...

"It’s a simple question: will Dwight Powell help the Mavericks win more games than somebody else on the roster?''

Powell signed a one-year, make-good contract. There are 15 other Mavericks with guaranteed deals. That would seem to put the squeeze on him.

Powell has been with the team starting in the middle of the 2014-15 season. He has tenure. He is loyal. He is a trusted voice, and he has experience playing on both bad and good teams.

Which is great for his record as a player in the NBA ... But keep in mind the league is based on a "what have you done for me lately" style of demotion-promotion roster management.

Powell, 35, played in 64 games in last season and started in 12. On was a recent preseason game in Macao, he was on the court for 15 minutes, getting three points and five rebounds.

New coach Dusty May recently saif that Powell “could be a coach.” ... and there is no argument there.

While the 6-10 Canadian may be meant for that someday, he obviously still wants to play.

“So there are a number of different components to the development of young players,” stated May via Mavs.com. “Putting him out there with guys, trying to assist them, make them better, screen well for them, it (his playing time in China) is just a decision where we felt we are playing well with him on the floor. We’re very, very comfortable.”

So Powell figures to "be out there'' inside the AAC on Wednesday. ... playing for his career.

The biggest storylines around here are about Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving; as Dallas tries to rebound from last year's dismal 26-win campaign, that figures to be a season-long thing.

But for now?

Here’s what else might be important to watch for:

*May is coaching for the first time at home with the Mavericks.

*The Pelicans have so far beaten Oklahoma City, and lost at Miami.

*The Mavericks end their preseason against Atlanta on Friday.

WHO: New Orleans Pelicans (1-1) vs. Dallas Mavericks (1-1)

WHEN: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas

TICKETS: Mavs.com/Tickets

TV: KFAA-29, MavsTV+, NBA TV

RADIO: 105.3 The Fan

Your Dallas Mavericks are favored to win by 1.5 points