The Dallas Mavericks issued medical updates on Friday regarding their three injured big men — Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford. While all are making progress, none of them are close to a return and it’s unclear if they’ll play again this season.
Davis, whom the Mavericks acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the trade deadline in exchange for Luka Doncic in a stunning and controversial deal, was injured 31 minutes into his team debut against the Houston Rockets on Feb. 8. He suffered an adductor strain and has not played since.
“A recent re-evaluation… indicated that Davis is improving daily and has therefore been cleared for more dynamic on-court movements,” the Mavericks stated. Davis will be re-evaluated on a weekly basis.
Anthony Davis has played 31 minutes for the Mavericks and they probably already need to trade him
Sam Quinn
Anthony Davis has played 31 minutes for the Mavericks and they probably already need to trade him
After Kyrie Irving tore his ACL earlier this week, Shams Charania reported that Davis may not return this season.
“I think him, his representatives are gonna huddle up. I think they’re gonna have some very hard conversations,” Charania said. “It’s not out of the realm of possibility that one game was the last time we’ve seen AD this season.”
At 32-31, the Mavericks sit in 10th place in the Western Conference. They are still 2.5 games up on the 11th-place Phoenix Suns for the final Play-In Tournament berth in the West, but it’s going to be difficult for them to hold on to that spot with all of their injury problems. Even if they do, they’ll have no chance of making a run, with or without Davis.
Mavericks have no choice but to tank rest of season (and maybe next year, too) after losing Kyrie Irving
Jasmyn Wimbish
Mavericks have no choice but to tank rest of season (and maybe next year, too) after losing Kyrie Irving
In fact, the Mavericks would be better off at this point falling out of the playoff picture entirely and hoping for some luck in the lottery. Holding Davis out for the rest of the season would help ensure that happens. The same is true with Lively and Gafford.
Lively has not played since mid-January when he fractured his ankle. He has progressed to on-court activity, and will be re-evaluated on a weekly basis. Gafford, meanwhile, went down with a knee sprain on Feb. 10, just a few days after Davis’ injury. The Mavericks said he would be re-evaluated in two weeks.