Dallas, TX — Center Daniel Gafford, sidelined since the first day of training camp with a sprained ankle, may dress for the Dallas Mavericks when they visit the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, head coach Jason Kidd said Sunday.
Mavericks
Kidd told reporters that Gafford participated in non-contact drills and is progressing “day by day.” The coach stopped short of guaranteeing the big man’s availability but said he would not rule it out.
The Mavericks also expect guard Brandon Williams and wing Caleb Martin to be ready for the opener. Williams has been working back from a hamstring strain and appeared briefly in the preseason finale against the Los Angeles Lakers. Martin missed all preseason action with an undisclosed injury but practiced in full Sunday. “If they keep doing what they’re doing Monday and Tuesday, they’ll have a good chance to play,” Kidd said.
Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks plan to waive forward Tyler Smith ahead of Monday’s roster deadline, according to The Athletic. Smith, the 33rd pick in last year’s draft, appeared in 23 games as a rookie and spent most of 2023-24 with the Wisconsin Herd of the G League. His $1.96 million salary for this season is fully guaranteed, but Milwaukee remains comfortably below the luxury-tax threshold, so the move will not affect the club’s cap situation.
Milwaukee’s decision clears a roster slot for Andre Jackson Jr., whose $2.2 million salary for 2025-26 becomes fully guaranteed once he makes the opening-night roster.
Wizards
The Washington Wizards are releasing forward Dillon Jones to finalize their 15-man roster, The Athletic reported. Jones, selected 26th overall in the 2024 draft and acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder this summer, averaged 2.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 54 NBA games last season. He also logged 13.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists over 23 G League contests.
The 6-foot-5 wing played three preseason games for Washington, averaging 1.3 steals in 11 minutes. Multiple outlets, including HoopsHype and The Stein Line, indicated that Jones is expected to receive interest from other teams on a two-way contract.
Source: Hoops Wire
