The Dallas Mavericks are entering the 2025-26 season with a marginally depleted roster, as star guard Kyrie Irving continues his rehabilitation from injury. While expectations for the team to be competitive remained positive, the Mavs were dealt another blow at training camp.
On the first day of training camp in Vancouver, Mavericks center Daniel Gafford reportedly rolled his ankle during practice. According to the Mavs’ head coach, Jason Kidd, Gafford is expected to be sidelined for 2-3 weeks, potentially missing the team’s season opener.
This comes as a blow for the Mavs. Over the 2024-25 season, Gafford established himself as a reliable option in the frontcourt. While already proven in the role of a backup big man, the 27-year-old stepped up to the plate in the capacity of a starter in the absence of Anthony Davis.
Gafford was traded to the Mavericks in the 2023-24 season. Since joining the team, he has appeared in a total of 86 games, featuring 52 starts. Last season, the Mavericks center appeared in 57 games, while starting in 31. During this period, he averaged 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game, shooting 70.2% from the field.
Not having Gafford available for the preseason and potentially the season opener could be a problem for Dallas. Although Davis’ being healthy seems largely positive, recent reports of him gaining weight before arriving at camp could raise concerns about his health.
With Gafford out of the rotation, the Mavericks could be forced to increase their star’s workload. Given that Davis is also recovering from an eye injury, Dallas would be advised to approach this cautiously.
While the general outlook remains bleak, Dallas could still find a silver lining. With one of their key big men out of the rotation, an opportunity presents itself for Dereck Lively II to assert his place in the starting lineup.
The former first-round pick has been viewed as a core player in Dallas’ rotation. Although he has been riddled with injuries in the past, the 21-year-old has displayed tremendous defensive upside and athleticism, making him a solid frontcourt partner for a player like Davis.
Lively’s constant run-ins with injury have limited his ability to stay on the floor, but when available, he is truly effective on both ends of the floor. Last season, he made 36 appearances, with 21 as a starter, and averaged 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game, shooting 70.2% from the field.
Coming off his sophomore campaign, the young center could be due for a breakout season. Given the influx of young talent, with the likes of Cooper Flagg joining the team for his rookie season, the Mavericks could experiment with a potential rotation featuring the two in the starting lineup.
