Future Is Bright For Dwight Powell

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Future is bright for Dwight Powell
October 23, 2014, 12:15 am





BOSTON - Celtics rookie Dwight Powell has yet to play a regular season NBA game, but is already with his third NBA team.

Drafted by the Hornets with the 45th pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, Powell was traded in a package to the Cavaliers on July 12. On September 25, he was traded again in a package deal - this time to the Celtics.

The trade to Boston wasn't much of a surprise to him at that point - Powell had already been through the "business" side of things in the NBA and expects anything.

Now, he should expect a spot on the Celtics roster.

Powell will make the squad to start the season, and Brad Stevens is eager to continue to work with him and watch his improvement after a bit of a wild offseason for the rookie.

"I have a pretty good feel for Dwight," Stevens said. "Played him twice in college. Thought he was a pro prospect first time I watched him warm up. Just a heck of an athlete. Live body, had some skill to him. I think we've learned a lot about him.

"He had the disadvantage of basically flying in and starting training camp. That'd be really difficult to do when you're a rookie. He's done a really good job. We've bounced him back and forth between the three and the four . . . I think we've got a pretty good idea of what he can do. But the bottom line is he's got a bright future ahead of him and he's got a lot of room for growth."

Powell was glad to hear that Stevens thought highly of him way back when he was a freshman and sophomore in college.

"It means a lot to hear that coming from someone with his stature," Powell said. "It's good to hear."

Powell has suited up in six preseason games for Boston, though just four or less minutes in three of them. On Wednesday, he logged 13 minutes and scored four points with a rebound, assist, block, and steal. It was his first game that he scored from the field (all previous points were from foul shots).

His teammates are seeing his game develop in camp.

"Like everybody [at the start of their careers] he's a rookie coming into this league just trying to find a niche," Jared Sullinger said. "I think he hangs his hat on defense. He has a little bit of similarities to Gerald [Wallace] as he plays on defense; very intense, very into the ball, plays hard, wants to rebound, plays physical. He's a good guy."

Powell won't be in the Celtics rotation initially, but more time with Stevens and his teammates in practice can only help his cause. And with Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge always looking to deal, who knows how things could open up for Powell down the road.





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