Mavericks Notes: Powell, Curry, Noel, Cuban

The Mavericks’ decision to sign Dwight Powell to a four-year, $37MM contract last summer raised eyebrows around the NBA, and while Powell had a decent season in 2016/17, he still needs to increase his production in order to make good on that deal. As Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com details, Dallas has high hopes for Powell this season, with the team hoping to see him take on a bigger role and improve his outside shooting.

“Expanding my range and continuing to develop all facets of the game offensively and defensively is a long process, and I’m just going to keep working at it,” Powell said. “Obviously, I had higher expectations for myself. I wanted to help this team more, and I wanted to win more. … Whatever it takes to help this team win and to put myself in a situation to be successful and help our team be successful, I’m willing to do whatever role [Rick Carlisle] wants me to do.”

Here’s more out of Dallas:

• Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News identifies Powell and Seth Curry as a pair of Mavs who could surprise fans in 2017/18. It will be a big year for Curry, who is eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2018.
• After a disappointing free agency outcome for Nerlens Noel, the relationship between the big man and the Mavs may be a little strained, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be salvaged, Sefko writes for The Dallas Morning News.
• Speaking to Dalton Trigg of Mavs Moneyball, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban suggests new Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta got a bargain at $2.2 billion, and reiterates that he has no plans to sell his own team for any amount of money, even if he runs for office in 2020. “I wouldn’t sell it. I would let Donnie [Nelson] run it,” Cuban said.
• The Basketball Insiders staff is bearish on the Mavericks’ chances to make noise in the Western Conference in 2017/18. Of the five Basketball Insiders writers to weigh in, all five expect Dallas to finish dead last in the Southwest division.