<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LAS VEGAS - Josh Powell has been through this drill before. For the second time in three summers, the former North Carolina State power forward is auditioning for an NBA gig with the Mavericks. Powell, 21, has easily been the Mavs' standout through three games of the Reebok Vegas Summer League, stealing some of the spotlight from the team's young NBA veterans. But whether he's suiting up with Marquis Daniels, Devin Harris and Co. beyond July, remains to be seen. What is clear is the Mavs are looking for athletic help in the frontcourt behind Dirk Nowitzki, and Powell (6-foot-9, 225 pounds) at least fits that bill. "Do I think there is something there? Absolutely," Mavs assistant Joe Prunty said Monday. "Do I know if he's going to make it and be able to contribute? We'll see." Powell continued a string of consistent performances with a solid showing Monday afternoon as the Mavs scrimmaged Chicago at the Tarkanian Basketball Academy. On a team with two 7-footers already on the Mavs roster -- DJ Mbenga and Pavel Podkolzin -- it's Powell who's averaging 11.3 rebounds in summer league. No one else is averaging more than five boards. "I play with my heart," said Powell, who went undrafted when he entered the 2003 NBA Draft after his sophomore season. "I try to outplay people. I don't try to do anything special. I just try to outwork them, especially when it comes to rebounding. My job is to grind, rebound, play defense and play hard." Powell is most at home fighting for position in the paint. When he grabs an offensive board, he has shown the strength to dunk on taller defenders. He's averaging 13.7 points -- second only to Daniels. "There's potential for sure," Prunty said, "but you can never judge wholly in five days. You just don't know what all is there." Powell played most of the last two seasons in Italy.</div> Source
