Injury Notes: Mavericks, Avdija, Edwards, Gobert, MPJ
The Mavericks will be without eight players for Saturday’s matchup with Utah, the team announced (via Twitter). In addition to Dante Exum, Dereck Lively II, Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg (left ankle sprain), Daniel Gafford (right ankle sprain), D’Angelo Russell (illness) and P.J. Washington (personal reasons) will also be sidelined today.
It’s the second straight missed game for Flagg, the top pick in last year’s draft. The only relatively unexpected absences were Washington, who was initially listed as probable with what the team called right ankle injury management, and Russell, who was a late scratch.
Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:
- Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija will miss his third straight game Saturday against the Lakers due to a lower back strain, the team confirmed (Twitter link). Avdija, who suffered the injury on January 11, was initially listed as doubtful. On a brighter note, Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday are both probable to suit up after initially being considered questionable.
- Star guard Anthony Edwards will return to action on Saturday after a two-game absence due to right foot injury management, per the Timberwolves (Twitter link). Four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, who is dealing with a left hip contusion, is questionable to play at San Antonio. According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link), Gobert seemed to be moving OK following Friday’s loss in Houston, but it is a quick turnaround.
- The Nets won’t have Michael Porter Jr. (rest) or Drake Powell (left knee injury management) available for Sunday’s game at Chicago, tweets Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Sunday is the front end of a back-to-back for Brooklyn — the team hosts Phoenix on Monday. Porter was also rested under similar circumstances last weekend.
Mavericks Rumors: Davis, Marshall, Gafford, Klay, Russell
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported a few days ago that Anthony Davis is still a trade candidate despite dealing with a hand injury that will keep him sidelined for at least six weeks. A subsequent report from his ESPN colleague Tim MacMahon stated that Davis’ agent Rich Paul hopes the 10-time All-Star is traded by the Mavericks prior to the February 5 deadline, but the team doesn’t feel any pressure to deal Davis just to move off his contract.
The Hawks and Raptors have been frequently linked to Davis, but neither team is close to trading for the 32-year-old big man, sources tell Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported earlier on Thursday that Atlanta isn’t operating with any urgency in the wake of Davis’ latest injury.
“The Mavericks’ leverage is materially worse after the hand injury,” one Western Conference executive told Afseth. “I don’t think [Davis] has much of a market.”
Here’s more from Afseth on the Mavericks:
- Forward Naji Marshall is having a career year with Dallas and has popped up in some trade rumors this winter. Confirming recent reporting from Marc Stein, Afseth says there’s a sense that Dallas prefers to hang on to Marshall rather than move him in the coming weeks. The 28-year-old wing is earning $9MM in 2025/26 and will make $9.4MM in ’26/27 before potentially becoming a free agent.
- Although Daniel Gafford has been repeatedly mentioned as one of the team’s top trade chips, his value seems to be diminishing because of health concerns, Afseth reports. The 27-year-old big man has missed 13 games this season due to a right ankle sprain he initially suffered on the first day of training camp and is doubtful for Saturday’s rematch with Utah, tweets Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. “If Gafford is healthy, he can help a team. I don’t think he’s been healthy all season,” one Eastern Conference scout told Dallas Hoops Journal. “That ankle has been a problem for months. It looks like he’s frequently playing through something. He doesn’t pop when you watch the Mavericks like he did last season.” No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg is also doubtful for tomorrow’s game with a left ankle sprain, Curtis adds.
- Veterans Klay Thompson and D’Angelo Russell are two other trade candidates for the Mavs, but neither player seems to have much of a market, sources tell Afseth. While one Eastern executive told Afseth he thinks Thompson can still contribute on a contending team, his contract — he’s earning $16.7MM this season and $17.5MM in 2026/27 — isn’t viewed positively. Russell, meanwhile, is shooting a career-low 29.5% from three-point range, has been out of the rotation for most of the past month, and holds a $6MM player option for ’26/27.
Afseth’s Latest: Mavs, AD, Klay, Giannis, Morant, Kessler, More
Although Dallas’ front office is open to listening to offers on Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford and D’Angelo Russell, the Mavericks aren’t “aggressively shopping” any of those four veterans, sources tell Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com.
As Afseth details, rival teams have gotten the impression that the Mavericks are currently evaluating not only their play to this point in the season but also their options on the trade market. They’re viewed as being “opportunistic” instead of a seller, Afseth writes, and whatever moves Dallas makes will be geared toward improving the team’s “long-term outlook.”
According to Afseth, the Mavs want to see Kyrie Irving play alongside Cooper Flagg and believe the star guard can complement the rookie forward and assist in Flagg’s development. Irving’s name is notably not among the aforementioned group.
While the Pistons, Hawks and Raptors are reportedly expected to among the suitors for Davis, sources who spoke to Afseth expressed skepticism about Davis’ fit in Detroit and Atlanta, with Toronto viewed as the best on-court landing spot of the group. Still, as Marc Stein recently reported and Afseth confirms, a Davis trade shouldn’t be viewed as an inevitability.
“The Mavericks are going to want to see how this team looks with AD and Kyrie,” one source told Afseth. “There is no sense in trying to just get rid of AD. The market has to be where they want to make a deal. If there isn’t a good enough deal on the table, I don’t see a deal getting done. They’d get another look at the trade market or evaluate an extension in the summer.”
Here are a few more highlights from Afseth’s rumor round-up:
- While Thompson’s on-court contributions have been up and down during his time in Dallas, he has remained a “positive” presence despite the organizational turmoil following the Luka Doncic trade, Afseth reports. If Dallas does end up having serious discussions about Thompson, the team is expected to be “considerate” of Thompson’s desire to play for a contender, Afseth adds.
- The future of Giannis Antetokounmpo is the biggest storyline on the trade market, but Afseth hears there haven’t been any new developments on that front. Some rival executives still view the Knicks as the favorites to land Antetokounmpo if he’s made available, but the Heat and Spurs are among the other potential suitors for the two-time MVP.
- Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant, who returned from a 10-game absence on Friday, is not currently available on the trade market, per Afseth. Should that change, the Heat are not viewed as being a strong fit for the two-time All-Star, Afseth continues.
- The Rockets, Timberwolves and Kings are among the teams keeping an eye on point guards ahead of the February 5 deadline, according to Afseth.
- The Pacers have done background work on Jazz center Walker Kessler, according to Afseth, who says Tyrese Haliburton is a fan of the fourth-year big man. Kessler, who is out for the year following shoulder surgery, was seeking $120MM+ on a long-term rookie scale extension before the season began, Afseth reports. Kessler will be a restricted free agent next offseason.
Charania’s Latest: Mavs, Pacers, T. Young, Nets, Kuminga, Kings
While the Mavericks are expected to explore trade options involving star forward/center Anthony Davis, he isn’t the only notable Dallas player who could be on the move this winter, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Sources tell Charania that the Mavs are also open to exploring the trade markets for center Daniel Gafford, swingman Klay Thompson, and point guard D’Angelo Russell.
Gafford signed a three-year, $54.4MM extension over the summer that will take effect in 2026/27, but remains trade-eligible because that deal didn’t exceed the extend-and-trade limits; Thompson is earning $16.7MM this season and is owed a $17.5MM guaranteed salary in 2026/27; and Russell is making $5.7MM in 2025/26, with a $6MM player option for next season.
As Charania observes, Thompson was sold on joining the Mavericks during the 2024 offseason in large part because he’d get to team up with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. But Doncic is no longer on the roster and Irving has been sidelined for over nine months due to an ACL tear. The Mavs are off to a 9-16 start this season and teams around the NBA know that Thompson would prefer to be on a team close to title contention, Charania continues.
While head coach Jason Kidd and minority owner Mark Cuban have some input in personnel decisions, Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi, who are currently running the Mavs’ front office as co-interim general managers, have been empowered to lead conversations about the team’s future, says Charania. Both Finley and Riccardi are expected to be candidates to keep the GM job on a permanent basis when the club conducts a full-fledged search after the season, sources tell ESPN.
Here are a few more items of interest from Charania’s latest ‘Inside Pass’ article for ESPN.com:
- The Pacers are engaged in trade talks in the hopes of finding a long-term answer at the center position, Charania reports. The team has been deploying Isaiah Jackson, Jay Huff, and Tony Bradley in the middle so far this season in the wake of Myles Turner‘s departure in free agency.
- While there has been some trade speculation centered around Trae Young this fall, the Hawks believe the star point guard will “elevate” the team once he returns from a sprained MCL that has kept him on the shelf since late October, according to Charania, who hears from sources that Young is optimistic about returning to action later this month.
- The Nets are still the only NBA team with cap room and continue to have trade discussions about how they might use that remaining room to take on salary along with additional assets, sources tell ESPN. Charania adds that Brooklyn may end up working with Cam Thomas‘ representatives to find a trade destination that works for the fifth-year guard, who has an implicit no-trade clause after accepting his one-year qualifying offer in September.
- Charania confirms that the Warriors will explore trades involving Jonathan Kuminga, who is eligible to be moved as of January 15, and that the Kings are being “open-minded” about possible deals involving most players on their roster, with Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Keon Ellis among the potential targets being monitored by rivals.
Mavs Rumors: Harrison, Davis, Cuban, Kidd, Flagg, Cisse
Having lost trust in general manager Nico Harrison, Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont decided overnight on Monday that there was no reason to put off a front office change that seemed inevitable, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
[RELATED: Mavericks Dismiss GM Nico Harrison]
In making the decision to fire Harrison on Tuesday, Dumont may appease some fans in Dallas, who have frequently chanted “fire Nico” at home games since last season’s Luka Doncic trade. According to Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link), several Mavericks players actually preferred to play away from home this fall, since there was far less vitriol related to Harrison on the road. MacMahon makes a similar point, noting that there has been no home court advantage to speak of for the Mavs so far this season.
“These people don’t want us to win,” one player griped, according to a source who spoke to ESPN.
While Harrison’s exit may improve the vibes in Dallas to some extent, there’s still no quick fix for the 3-8 club, which has a significant hole at the point guard spot until Kyrie Irving is able to return from his torn ACL.
“There’s no point guard. You don’t have a floor leader,” an Eastern Conference scout told MacMahon. “That’s the first problem. Then you’re trying to make a guy who isn’t a point guard (Cooper Flagg) a point guard. The coach doesn’t trust the guy you signed this summer (D’Angelo Russell). That’s obvious. They don’t trust him enough to make him the floor leader, and that’s in line with the consensus around the league. They don’t have shooting, and they don’t have creation. Those are things you need to be a good offensive team.”
Russell, who was replaced in the starting lineup by Brandon Williams on Monday, has come off the bench in eight of 11 games so far and is posting career-worst shooting percentages. The Mavericks’ cap situation meant they had limited tools at their disposal this past offseason to upgrade their roster — they used their full taxpayer mid-level exception to sign Russell. Still, there presumably would’ve been more options available to Dallas on the trade market if the team had been willing to move some of its frontcourt depth to address the backcourt.
“Remarkable that Nico did not acquire a good guard this summer so they could win some games,” an Eastern Conference executive said to ESPN. “That was such low-hanging fruit.”
We have more on the Mavs:
- One big question in Dallas now will be whether the team looks to move star big man Anthony Davis. John Hollinger of The Athletic argues that a Davis trade is the best path forward for the club and believes the 32-year-old would still command a haul of draft picks and/or young players, despite his injury history. According to MacMahon, several sources around the NBA agree with Hollinger and believe that the Mavs must at least gauge Davis’ trade value in the coming months. “You have Flagg, but you’re old and you don’t own your picks,” a Western Conference decision-maker told ESPN. “[They have to] be comfortable with taking two steps back if that’s the necessary path. Be patient. They need to lose this year, but I don’t see Dumont being comfortable with taking a step back. It’s not natural as a new owner.”
- Former Mavericks majority owner – and current minority shareholder – Mark Cuban was involved in a meeting on Monday with Dumont and team president Rick Welts before Harrison was let go, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link). MacMahon, meanwhile, hears that Cuban and Dumont have talked more frequently in recent months and that Cuban is the one in favor of targeting former Mavs advisor Dennis Lindsey to replace Harrison. It remains to be seen how open Dumont will be to Cuban’s suggestions, MacMahon adds.
- According to Stein, Dumont is expected to “lean heavily” on head coach Jason Kidd during this transition period. Kidd has signed contract extensions in each of the past two offseasons and is clearly in no danger of following Harrison out the door.
- Despite the 3-8 start, there have been some bright spots in Dallas as of late. As MacMahon writes for ESPN, Flagg had his best all-around game on Monday, with 26 points and nine rebounds, and tied LeBron James as the youngest player in NBA history to score at least 25 points in a game. Additionally, two-way rookie big man Moussa Cisse seems to be finding his footing at the NBA level, having held his own in a rotation role with Davis sidelined, notes Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal. Cisse has averaged 7.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in 17.7 minutes per game in his past three outings — the Mavs outscored opponents by 18 points in his 53 minutes on the court during that stretch.
Mavs Notes: Thompson, Flagg, Davis, Lively, Gafford
He says it “isn’t a permanent thing,” but Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd moved struggling wing Klay Thompson to the bench ahead of Wednesday’s game against New Orleans, writes Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News.
“I don’t mind,” Thompson said of not starting. “I’m going to play. I’m gonna do great things. That’s coming. I know it is.”
As Townsend observes, Thompson had started every game with Dallas prior to Wednesday. However, he’s off to a very slow start to the season, and Kidd decided to shake things up with the team’s offense struggling to manufacture points.
Thompson, 35, is confident he’ll turn things around soon — he finished with 11 points (on 4-of-7 shooting), four rebounds and three assists in 21 minutes in the two-point loss to the Pelicans.
“I’m feeling like those first five games were hard for me to get my wind and get my legs under me,” he said, per Townsend. “Now I’m finally feeling like myself again. And you just know as a shooter, when that ball is just effortlessly flicking off your wrist. You know big things are coming.”
Here’s more on the Mavs, who are now 2-6:
- No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg was announced as a forward for the first time on Wednesday with D’Angelo Russell replacing Thompson in the starting lineup, according to Eric Koreen of The Athletic. Flagg finished with 20 points (on 8-of-19 shooting), nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks in 35 minutes, but missed a potential game-tying shot in the closing seconds, Koreen notes. “For me it’s the most I’ve lost since, I think, ever,” The 18-year-old said after the game.
- Kidd provided updates on injured big men Anthony Davis (left calf strain) and Dereck Lively (right knee sprain) on Wednesday, as Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal relays (Twitter video link). According to Kidd, Davis is “feeling better” and is considered day-to-day, while the team is hopeful that Lively, who is doing on-court work, might be able to return next week. Davis has missed three straight games; Lively has missed five.
- Center Daniel Gafford had a solid outing on Wednesday, recording 15 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks. However, Kidd indicated before the game (Twitter link via Afseth) that the former second-round pick is still on a minutes restriction — Gafford wound up playing just under 25 minutes.
Southwest Notes: Mavericks, Gafford, Irving, Rockets, Morant
Tonight’s game in Mexico City is an important part of the NBA’s international outreach and a chance for the Mavericks to build their fan base in the neighboring nation, writes Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (subscription required). The Mavs’ contest against Detroit marks their eighth appearance in Mexico and the NBA’s 33rd overall since 1992.
“For fans outside of the U.S., the opportunity for them to enjoy a live experience of an NBA game is very limited,” said Raul Zarraga, vice president and managing director of NBA Mexico. “This is part of our commitment to provide this live experience to fans all around the world.”
Dwight Powell, the only player left on the roster from the Mavericks’ last trip to Mexico during the 2019/20 season, recalls the crowd being “extremely energetic.” Zarraga said Mexican fans as a group don’t have a strong rooting interest in any franchise, but they tend to like the three Texas teams as well as those with successful histories such as the Bulls, Lakers and Heat.
One of tonight’s top attractions will be No. 1 draft pick Cooper Flagg, who’s looking forward to playing in front of an international crowd.
“I’ve been to Cancun one time for a vacation, but other than that, I’ve never been to Mexico,” Flagg said. “I’m excited. I’ve heard it’s really beautiful. Detroit’s a really good team, so it should be a competitive, high-level game.”
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Daniel Gafford is in the Mavericks‘ starting lineup as he makes his season debut, but coach Jason Kidd said he’ll be restricted to about 15-18 minutes, per Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal (Twitter link). D’Angelo Russell is also active after being listed as questionable with a left knee contusion.
- Asked about Kyrie Irving at tonight’s pregame press conference, Kidd hinted that his star guard could be back in action before the end of the year, Curtis tweets. “We just can’t wait to get Kai back, at some point,” Kidd said. “Hopefully it’s in the year of ’25, not ’26. We’ll see what happens, but I think those two (Irving/Flagg) will be a perfect match in the backcourt.”
- Rockets coach Ime Udoka is still working out his rotation and is trying to create more playing time for backup center Clint Capela, according to Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Udoka added that there’s still no timetable for Dorian Finney-Smith, who is recovering from offseason ankle surgery, but he and Jae’Sean Tate will get a chance to earn rotation roles when they’re fully healthy. Tate is currently restricted to 15 minutes per game.
- The Grizzlies have already reached a turning point in their season after today’s one-game suspension of Ja Morant, contends Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Cole states that Morant seemed “disengaged” during Friday’s loss to the Lakers, and he was upset after a post-game interaction with coach Tuomas Iisalo, who is known for being direct with players. Cole adds that the season could unravel quickly if Morant, Iisalo and Jaren Jackson Jr. don’t work together as leaders.
Mavs’ Daniel Gafford To Make Season Debut Saturday
Mavericks center Daniel Gafford will make his 2025/26 season debut on Saturday in Mexico City against Detroit, he told reporters, including Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News and Christian Clark of The Athletic (Twitter links).
“Of course. Yeah,” The 27-year-old big man said. “Of course. Just taking my time.”
Gafford said he sprained his right ankle on the first day of training camp in late September when he landed on Anthony Davis‘ foot in one of the team’s first drills (Twitter video link via Curtis). He was originally expected to miss two-to-three weeks, but has now been out for just over a month.
“It’s been a lot of ups and downs,” Gafford said. ” … Couldn’t really control it. … It wasn’t something anyone was planning on happening but as they say, ‘stuff happens.’“
As Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal writes, Gafford is officially listed as questionable for Saturday’s game, as is guard D’Angelo Russell, who is dealing with a left knee contusion he sustained in Wednesday’s win vs. Indiana. Dereck Lively II (right knee sprain) will miss his third straight game, with Anthony Davis (calf strain), Kyrie Irving (recovering from ACL surgery) and Dante Exum (right knee injury management) out as well.
Gafford averaged a career-high 12.3 points per game last season, along with 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks, but injuries limited him to 57 games. He sat out 21 straight contests with a sprained knee late in ’24/25, but was able to return in early April.
The former second-round pick’s offseason was highlighted by a three-year, $54MM extension that runs through the ’28/29 season.
Mavericks Notes: Aguirre, Russell, Flagg, Lively
The Mavericks are retiring Mark Aguirre‘s No. 24 jersey on January 29, 2026, the team announced today (Twitter video link).
Dallas selected Aguirre with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1981 draft. He played parts of eight seasons for the Mavs, averaging 24.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 566 games and making three All-Star appearances before being traded to Detroit in 1989. He went on to win back-to-back championships as a role player with the Pistons.
In a phone interview with Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News, Aguirre became emotional multiple times when discussing the jersey retirement. He first found out the news before Wednesday’s season opener.
“I’m sorry about that,” he said. “After so long, it’s still a little shocking to me. It still hasn’t sunk in.”
As Townsend notes, Aguirre will be the fifth former Maverick to have his jersey hang in the rafters of the American Airlines Center, joining Derek Harper (No. 12), Brad Davis (No. 15), Rolando Blackman (No. 22) and Dirk Nowitzki (No. 41).
Townsend asked whether returning to Dallas this summer ahead of the 2025 draft and the news of having his jersey retired has brought closure for Aguirre after spending many years away from the franchise.
“Well, I think it opens it up really, to the fact that I am a Maverick,” Aguirre said. “Yes, I went to Detroit and it was a good stay, but I’m a Maverick. You know? I’m a Maverick. I am.”
Here’s more on the Mavericks:
- Free agent addition D’Angelo Russell got off to a slow start with the Mavs, playing just 12.0 minutes per contest in the team’s first two losses and going 1-of-9 from the field. He bounced back in Sunday’s victory over Toronto, recording 24 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals in 29 minutes, per Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. Russell was a game-high plus-26 in the 10-point victory. “True professional,” Anthony Davis said of Russell. “He’s been in this league long enough. He never wavered. He stayed with the team. He stayed with himself, stayed locked in and came and made plays for us today. He came in and definitely changed the game. I’ve been a teammate of his for a couple of years and I know his ability to change the game and what he can do offensively.”
- Top pick Cooper Flagg had the best game of his young career on Sunday, finishing with 22 points, four rebounds, four assists and zero turnovers in 29 minutes. He also had the game’s top highlight (YouTube link), an and-one dunk over Raptors big man Sandro Mamukelashvili, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN. “The fans have showed up for the first three games, and I thought tonight was really the first time we gave ’em something to be excited for and be on their feet for,” Flagg said.
- Flagg may have suffered a left shoulder injury in Monday’s game vs. Oklahoma City. He had the shoulder heavily wrapped during a timeout, Curtis tweets, but was able to check back into the game shortly thereafter, notes Marc Stein (via Twitter).
- Starting center Dereck Lively II suffered a right knee contusion on Sunday, causing him to leave the win early, and was out for Monday’s contest as well. Davis started in the middle with Daniel Gafford still recovering from a right ankle sprain, as Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal relays.
Mavs Notes: Flagg, Starting Five, Russell, Gafford
Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg technically posted a double-double in his NBA debut on Wednesday vs. San Antonio, with 10 points and 10 rebounds. But the No. 1 overall pick shot just 4-of-13 from the field, committed three turnovers (to zero assists), and was a team-worst -29 in a blowout loss to the division-rival Spurs.
“Not great,” Flagg said after the game when asked to evaluate his performance, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “Obviously, didn’t play incredibly well, but we’ve got to move past it, turn our focus and start looking toward Friday (against the Wizards).”
Flagg’s critical assessment of his debut wasn’t echoed by his teammates, head coach, or even his opponents. Spurs guard and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle told reporters that Flagg was “a lot more poised than I thought he would be,” while Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said he thought Flagg “played within himself” and took what the defense gave him. Kidd added that the former Duke star looked more comfortable and aggressive in the third quarter after going scoreless in the first half.
“I thought he played well,” Kidd said. “Now, the stat line is not going to say that, but no one in this room is sitting in his shoes. As a rookie, he did fine and he’s going to learn from this game. We all will, and we’ll be better next time we take the floor.”
Here’s more on the Mavs:
- Despite a blowout loss on Wednesday, Kidd remains comfortable with a super-sized starting lineup that features Flagg at point guard alongside Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II, and Anthony Davis, writes Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (subscription required). The unit was only on the court for six minutes together due to foul issues, but played the Spurs to a draw during that limited sample. “It changes the dynamics of the rotation,” Kidd said of the Mavs’ early foul trouble. “We gotta look at game two if we can stay out of foul trouble.”
- When the Mavericks signed D’Angelo Russell in free agency, the assumption was that he would be the starting point guard until Kyrie Irving is ready to return from his ACL tear. However, Russell told reporters on Wednesday that he’s not bothered by coming off the bench. “Be a basketball player whenever I get in the game,” Russell said of his mindset, according to Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal. “Like I said, it just comes down to winning and finishing the game. However, I can help finish a game if need be — and always impact winning — is my goal as well.”
- According to Kidd, the Mavericks aren’t thinking of Russell as their sixth man. “We’re not looking at a starter or sixth man,” the Mavs’ coach said, per Curtis. “He’s going to get enough minutes to help us win. That’s why he’s here. That’s what we believe. We’re not going to label him as a sixth man.”
- Veteran center Daniel Gafford (right ankle sprain) is listed as questionable for Friday’s game vs. Washington and has a chance to make his season debut against his former team. As Curtis writes, Gafford is ramping up after missing the entire preseason and did some mid-range shooting, one-on-one defense, and free throw shooting in a post-practice drill on Thursday.
[UPDATE: Gafford has been downgraded to out for Friday’s game.]