Mavericks Face Tough Decision on Anthony Davis’ Return
The Dallas Mavericks have endured a brutal stretch of injuries and setbacks since trading Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers before February’s trade deadline. The move brought Anthony Davis to Dallas, but his debut was cut short after just 31 minutes due to an adductor strain. Since then, the injuries have piled up.
Big man Daniel Gafford joined Davis and Dereck Lively II on the sideline, while PJ Washington has been in and out of the lineup with an ankle issue. The most devastating blow came when Kyrie Irving tore his ACL, ruling him out for the remainder of the season and casting doubt on his availability for next year.
With a depleted roster, the Mavericks have been playing with the league-minimum eight players on multiple occasions. The results haven’t been pretty—Dallas is 33-36 on the season and has gone 2-8 in its last 10 games. While they currently hold the final play-in spot in the Western Conference, their chances of making a meaningful postseason run appear slim.
Should the Mavericks Shut Down Davis?
With only 13 games remaining, the Mavs must decide whether it’s worth bringing Davis back or shutting him down for the season. Many would argue that tanking and prioritizing lottery odds would be the smarter approach.
On Monday, the Mavericks assigned Davis to the Texas Legends, their G League affiliate, to participate in practice as he works toward a return. Just hours later, he was recalled to the NBA roster. In an ideal world, this would be a major boost to Dallas’ playoff hopes—but with Irving out for the season and key players still sidelined, Davis’ return may not make much of a difference.
Davis Wants to Play—But Is It Worth the Risk?
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Davis is “very eager” to return before the season ends. However, there are legitimate concerns that he could re-aggravate his injury, which might set him back heading into next season. Given Davis’ injury history, the safer move would be to hold him out and allow him to fully recover.
The Mavericks’ front office, led by GM Nico Harrison, will have to make a tough call. Bringing Davis back for a handful of games could be risky, especially if it impacts his availability for next year—a season that is already clouded by Irving’s uncertain timeline for recovery.
Looking Ahead
When healthy, Davis remains one of the league’s most dominant two-way players. In his brief appearance for Dallas, he posted an impressive 26 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 blocks. There’s no doubt he can be a game-changer, but given the current state of the Mavericks, it may be wiser to focus on retooling for next season rather than pushing for an unlikely playoff run.
Dallas must decide: prioritize the long-term future or risk further complications by bringing Davis back too soon. The coming weeks will reveal which path they choose.