Mavericks' center depth disaster on the verge of a much-needed shakeup

The Dallas Mavericks are only a few days away from returning to the floor following the All-Star break, and this week off has given several of the players some much-needed time off to recover from their injuries ahead of this final stretch of the season.

In Dallas' last game before the All-Star break, eight players were out. The team's injuries have reached unprecedented levels over the last few months, and their center position in particular has been through the wringer.

Every center on the roster outside of Kylor Kelley has suffered a serious injury this season, with the most devastating injury being the adductor strain that Anthony Davis suffered in his first game as a Maverick. Despite Davis being confident that he hadn't suffered a serious setback when questioned about it after the game, he has been out ever since and hasn't been spotted on the Mavericks bench either.

The season ultimately rests on Davis' shoulders, as they can't contend with the best teams in the West if he can't return this season, but it sounds like they're getting some backup soon to hold them over until and if Davis returns.

Mavericks poised to get much-needed help at center soon

Dwight Powell has been out since January 17 when he injured his hip against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he has missed the last 14 games. While Powell was playing a career-low in minutes per game before he suffered this right hip strain against the Thunder, he has been missed significantly recently.

The Mavericks have been forced to start Kessler Edwards at center due to all the injuries, and while he has been solid in his minutes, Dallas' small-ball focus likely isn't sustainable for the rest of the season. They need one of their true bigs to get healthy and it sounds like Powell is trending in that direction.

According to Dallas Hoops Journal's Grant Afseth, Powell has participated in full workouts in Miami during the All-Star break. A person who was in attendance at these workouts told Afseth that they "wouldn’t have known he was coming back from something if you hadn’t mentioned it," and that is a great sign for his potential return timeline.

We are still awaiting an official update from the Mavericks about Powell's injury and his potential return date, but it is worth noting that Jason Kidd didn't provide an update about Powell's injury when asked about it last week. The Mavericks are always pretty reserved when it comes to injuries, but not hearing anything about what's going on with Powell over a month after he got injured is strange.

The Mavericks need Powell back into the lineup more than ever before, and him returning would make a major difference when it comes to their center depth. They need a healthy big badly in order to compete with some of the best teams in the NBA, and while Powell is no Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, or Dereck Lively II, his return to the floor couldn't come at a more perfect time if he is able to return soon. Powell is a strong finisher in the pick and roll and always brings outstanding energy, and the Mavericks are going to need the most out of him over the next few months.

This season for Dallas, Powell is averaging 1.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks per game while shooting a career-high 77.8 percent from the field, and he is likely going to be playing more than he ever has once he returns from injury and ramps his activity back up. A lot is going to be asked of Powell once he returns due to the circumstances the team is in, but he is one to never complain.

Powell is the longest-tenured player on the team, and a major uptick in minutes per game is something he should be excited about, and the Mavericks have nothing to worry about when it comes to him being ready for the opportunity that Kidd presents him. Kidd highly values energy and effort from his players in their minutes, and those are two things that are never in question with Powell.