Dwight Powell (PF/C, DAL): Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

Mavericks forward/center Dwight Powell is a worthy consideration as a fantasy basketball waiver wire pickup heading into Week 20 of the NBA season.

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14-Team Leagues

ROSTERED IN: 14% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Don't look know, but it's been three games in a row (all taking place this month) for Powell hitting 30+ FP every time he's been on the court, and coming off the pine in two of them he's logged back-to-back 27+ minutes of playing time. Powell had to endure a tough injury recovery through the final months of 2020, and he was playing barely 15 MPG from the tipoff to well into April. That all changed on Apr. 21 when Powell started for the first time in two months, and although he's now back to the bench he's been excellent.

It's been 10 games from Apr. 21 on for Powell, and eight starts in that span averaging a much higher 20 MPG while playing 28 and 27 minutes in the last two off the pine. Powell is absolutely freakish when it comes to shooting, averaging a ridiculous 75.7% from the floor (on a rather low FGA average, though) and putting up an unconscious 77 true shooting percentage in the past 10 games.

Getting into the second unit has murdered Powell's usage rate, which sat at putrid 7 and 9 percent marks in the last two games, but on the other hand, he was able to dub-dub yesterday against Brooklyn (12-10-5-1-1; season-high in FP with 37) and in the other match facing Miami he put up a 7-10-3-3-2 line. Powell is definitely the low-maintenance, über-efficient player you want to roster for the remainder of the regular season. Dallas is fighting for avoiding the play-in, is pretty much locked into making the postseason, won't risk Kristaps Porzingis, and will need to make the most of using Powell for a few games during the home stretch.

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