Fenerbahce Nears Deal for Former NBA Center Dwight Powell

Fenerbahce is closing in on a high-profile signing to bolster its frontcourt. According to a report by Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews on Friday, the European powerhouse is in the final stages of negotiations with Dwight Powell, the 35-year-old Canadian center recently released by the Dallas Mavericks, who is expected to join Sarunas Jasikevicius' squad through the end of the season.

Negotiations between Fenerbahce and Powell have reportedly been underway for some time, bringing the two sides close to finalizing a deal. While the veteran center also drew interest from several other EuroLeague clubs, including Barcelona, the Turkish side has emerged as the frontrunner. An official announcement regarding the signing has not yet been made.

Powell, standing at 2.08 meters, spent 12 seasons in the NBA, predominantly with the Dallas Mavericks after arriving via a trade in December 2014 following a brief stint with the Boston Celtics. Over his career, he appeared in 768 regular-season games, averaging 6.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1 assist in 17.5 minutes per contest. In his final season with the Mavericks, he averaged 3.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.

Having reached the NBA Finals with Dallas in 2024 and captured a bronze medal with the Canadian national team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Powell is regarded as an experienced interior presence known for his prowess in the pick-and-roll and efficient finishing near the rim. If finalized, this would mark the first European chapter of his career.

The development comes less than 24 hours after Fenerbahce suffered a crushing 95:76 defeat against Real Madrid, marking their second consecutive EuroLeague loss and dropping their record to 6-3. Following the match, head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius did not mince words, stating, "We have no identity as a team. We are just a collection of big names." The Lithuanian coach now appears poised to add another prominent name to his roster.