Reviewing Dwight Powell's first season in Dallas

Dwight Powell was acquired by the Dallas Mavericks as a spare part in the now infamous Rajon Rondo Trade. Nobody expected much from the second-round draft pick, and Powell mostly lived up to those expectations.

Here's Mavs.com's Bobby Karalla with a look back at an uneventful year one, but why Powell's sophomore season could be a rousing success:

"The first-year player was assigned to the D-League 12 different times combined by the Mavs and Boston Celtics, his former team. But Powell handled the hectic nature of his season with grace and maturity, mixing in a bit of dominance, too. As a four-year player at Stanford, it’s no surprise Powell understood what his path would be this season, and as a second-round pick in this league, sometimes you have to travel roads a bit less glamorous. That said, the future appears bright for this young player, and the Mavs front office is optimistic about how much better he can — and likely will — become."

Powell's contract is extremely team friendly. A fact not lost on Mark Cuban or general manager Donnie Nelson. He's either modest-sized trade bait this summer, or, equally likely, a potential rotation player who can spell an aging Dirk Nowitzki next season.

Maybe trading for Rondo wasn't the worst decision after all.

(h/t: Mavs)

Photo Credit: Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports