The Dallas Mavericks hadn’t had the start to the season they’d hoped for, and while rookie Cooper Flagg continues to look like a budding star, the injuries to Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis have held a dark shadow over the franchise.
With Davis now out for at least six weeks, the trade rumors surrounding his name, as well as the team’s overall poor record, all of that could have a major impact on Irving’s potential return from injury, after he tore his ACL last March.
According to Tim McMahon of ESPN, the Mavericks could hold out Irving for the rest of the season due to their struggles, regardless of whether he wants to return or not.
“The return date of Kyrie Irving, the co-star on the Mavs’ 2024-25 NBA Finals team, as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered in early March remains to be determined,” McMahon wrote. “He has yet to be cleared to practice, and while Irving has made it clear that he hopes to play this season, sources anticipate that, considering the Mavs’ place in the standings, there will be discussions about postponing his comeback until next season.”
Along with Irving and Davis, Dallas has a number of players listed on their injury report or set to miss major time with numerous health concerns. As stated, despite Flagg’s impressive rookie season, the team as a whole has underperformed due to their overall availability restrictions across the roster.
Mavericks Looking To Hold Out Kyrie Irving Until Next Season
Previous reporting from both team insiders as well as Irving himself indicated that his return was going well and that he wanted to get back on the court sometime this season.
“Yeah, I’m right on schedule, guys. There’s consistency here. I’m right on schedule,” Irving said before the season began. “For me, my advice, the best advice I got is just take your time. No timeline is going to be perfect. Don’t compare it to anyone else and just enjoy the process.”
Most recently, Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal wrote that Irving could eye a return after the mid-February All-Star break, which would be about on pace with what had previously been reported. Former NBA star and Hall of Famer Reggie Miller also indicated the team was hopeful for a return at about that time, too.
“From a firsthand perspective, Irving’s progress has been evident. During a workout observed while the Mavericks were on the road, he looked sharp, explosive, and efficient as he moved through a full on-court session,” Afseth wrote on Irving’s recent on-court workouts.
But McMahon’s recent article paints a much different picture. The Mavericks are 18-26, 12th in the Western Conference standings, and don’t appear to have any hopes of making waves in the playoffs, if they reach the postseason at all.
While the past year has been nothing short of devastating for Dallas fans, if Irving does stay out for the rest of the year, that would only add to the heartbreak.
At least Flagg is playing at a near-All-Star level, because without him, the Mavericks could very well be battling for the worst record in the league.
Anthony Davis Trade Rumors, New Drama
For Davis, he remains one of, if not the, biggest name mentioned in trade rumors. Before he went out with a hand injury, it was expected to be almost a guarantee that he would be traded to the Atlanta Hawks, but rumors have since died down after Shams Charania reported he would miss at least the next six weeks after a back-and-forth on whether he would get surgery or not.
Davis has also been linked to the Golden State Warriors, but most recently, the Toronto Raptors have entered the mix. According to TSN’s Josh Lewenberg, the team from Canada has held talks about trading for the ten-time All-Star.
“According to sources, the Raptors have held internal conversations about the pros and cons of trading for Davis, an elite rim protector and perennial all-star, who turns 33 in March, comes with an extensive injury history, and is currently out with ligament damage in his hand,” he wrote.
Lewenberg added that those talks have mostly stemmed from the recent news that Davis’ agent, Rich Paul, is now asking the Mavericks to trade his client. Paul has been extremely outspoken recently about Davis and LeBron James, and as seen in the past, he tends to get what he wants as the most powerful agent in the NBA, and perhaps the sports world as a whole.
“Rich Paul, who represents Anthony Davis, has made it clear he wants his client to be traded. He believes that’s in his best interest. I don’t get the sense that AD is pounding
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported on Thursday that both the trade rumors on Davis between the Raptors and Hawks have died down, but as seen with his trade from the Los Angeles Lakers, nothing can be ruled out with him.
McMahon added that there is a real chance Davis never plays in a Mavericks jersey again, as with the trade deadline two weeks away, he is slated to return in early March at the earliest.
But for now, Irving, Davis, and a number of other Dallas players remain sidelined with injuries as the franchise looks to find some sense of direction with their new star in Flagg.
Mavericks Hit With Brutal Reality Check On Kyrie Irving Injury Return