Mavericks Await Updates on Davis’ Hand; Irving Targeted for Return After All-Star Break
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The Dallas Mavericks, off to a 15-25 start, are bracing for a potentially lengthy absence for center Anthony Davis, who is seeking multiple opinions on a left-hand ligament injury.
Despite the team’s struggles, there is no indication the organization plans to sideline point guard Kyrie Irving for the remainder of the season, according to league sources. Irving has been rehabbing an ACL tear suffered last March and is widely expected to return sometime after next month’s All-Star break.
Irving Shows Progress in Workout
Reporter Grant Afseth noted that Irving looked “sharp, explosive, and efficient” during a recent full-court workout with assistant coach Phil Handy on the Mavericks’ road trip. The drills were designed to replicate game conditions, and observers saw no hesitation from the guard.
Uncertain Timeline for Davis
Head coach Jason Kidd told local media on Monday that Davis will meet with doctors this week but offered no timetable for an update. “The team is playing. We’ve been through this before,” Kidd said, emphasizing a “next-man-up mentality.” Dallas is 5-15 in games Davis has missed this season.
Draft Ramifications
With Dallas controlling its own first-round pick for the final time until 2031 after this season, The Athletic’s Christian Clark suggested Davis’s absence could inadvertently improve the club’s lottery odds in the 2026 draft.
Monitoring Two-Way Players
Two-way center Moussa Cissé has logged 34 appearances and guard Ryan Nembhard 33, leaving each only a handful of eligible games before hitting the 50-game limit in February. Kidd said the front office is “monitoring those figures very closely” after managing a similar situation last year. Converting either player to a standard contract would lift the cap but requires an open roster spot, which Dallas currently lacks while operating just below the second-apron hard cap.
Flagg’s All-Star Hopes
Rookie forward Cooper Flagg is viewed as a lock for the Rising Stars challenge, with Kidd openly campaigning for his inclusion in the main All-Star Game. The league has not had a rookie All-Star since Blake Griffin in 2011.
The Mavericks return to action later this week while awaiting further clarity on Davis’s injury and Irving’s anticipated post-All-Star return.
Source: Hoops Rumors
