The Dallas Mavericks will face the New York Knicks on the road on Monday, January 19, and they may be getting their superstar rookie back in the starting lineup.
Cooper Flagg has been upgraded to questionable with a left ankle sprain on the official injury report. He had six points, one rebound and one assist on 33.3% shooting from the field in 15 minutes in a 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, January 14.
Flagg is one of the frontrunners for the Rookie of the Year Award this season, averaging 18.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 47.8% from the field and 28.7% from three.
Is Cooper Flagg Playing Tonight
Flagg has missed the last two games with a left ankle sprain, after he exited in the third quarter against the Nuggets and did not return. His current injury status is a positive sign for the Mavericks, as the forward appears to be trending in the right direction in his recovery.
Dallas, however, won’t take any chances with Flagg if he is not feeling 100%. The team will likely evaluate him in pregame warmups and then make a final decision on his status. If Flagg is out again, Caleb Martin will likely get the start.
Daniel Gafford (right ankle sprain), D’Angelo Russell (illness) and P.J. Washington (personal reasons) remain out tonight. Anthony Davis (left finger sprain) will likely be out for the rest of the regular season, and Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery) is looking at a possible return after the All-Star break.
Dallas Mavericks Trade Rumors
With the Mavericks trying to build around Flagg, the team has a number of players it’s looking to deal ahead of the February 5 trade deadline.
Davis remains a viable trade piece after it was determined he could return in time for the postseason. The big man has been linked to a number of Eastern Conference teams, including the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors, who need help at the center position. The 10-time All-Star could net a sizable return for Dallas that includes multiple first-round draft picks and proven, young players.
Gafford and Klay Thompson could also move from the Mavericks to a contender this month. Both have been linked to the Golden State Warriors in a possible deal for Jonathan Kuminga. A trade could bring back draft picks, but it would likely be more focused on providing Dallas with additional salary cap space, in order for it to be aggressive in free agency this summer.
Mavericks Get Major Injury Update On Cooper Flagg