Anthony Davis could be nearing a long-awaited return to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavericks assigned Davis and point guard Jaden Hardy to the Texas Legends, their G League affiliate, on Monday morning. They were recalled back to the Mavericks later that afternoon.
It’s a move that allowed Davis and Hardy to participate in a five-on-five scrimmage, which is the key indicator for any player ramping up for a return to the court. The Mavericks dressed just eight players for Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers and their dire injury crisis has been the primary cause of their lack of practices.
Davis has been sidelined with a left adductor strain since his dominant debut against the Houston Rockets on Feb. 8. Hardy suffered a right ankle injury on March 3 and has missed the last seven games.
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The Mavericks have used the Legends as a resource before. They assigned Caleb Martin to the Legends to practice on March 4, shortly before he made his team debut on March 7 against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Mavericks have only two games this week, a visit to play against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday before hosting the Detroit Pistons at home Friday night.
While a return for Davis could be beneficial, is it logical for him to return to a struggling team clinging to the 10th seed in the Western Conference with just 13 games left in the regular season?
Here are a few pros and cons of Davis’ return to the Mavericks:
The case for Davis’ return:
An increased chance to qualify for the playoffs
The Mavericks (33-36) are 5-11 since Davis’ injury and have compiled a 1-6 record since Kyrie Irving suffered a season-ending torn ACL. Despite a spiral down the West’s standings, it’s possible for the Mavericks to fend off the 11th-place Phoenix Suns (31-37) to remain in the Play-In picture. Adding an elite All-Star like Davis would give them an opportunity to win more games and possibly catch Sacramento (33-33) for the ninth seed. That would give the Mavericks an opportunity to host a Play-In game at American Airlines Center.
An opportunity to build chemistry with teammates
The Mavericks don’t have an identity as currently constructed, but an in-season return for Davis would give the team a head start on the chemistry-building process. That would give Davis an opportunity to play with key rotation players such Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall, who are still under contract for next season. Davis is already familiar with Max Christie since they were teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers, but playing a handful of games with Thompson, Washington and Marshall would allow them to gain momentum going into the offseason. Not to mention, the Mavericks are running out of bodies as their trio of two-way players could run out of eligibility as soon as Friday.
Related:Could the Dallas Mavericks’ dire injury crisis lead to forfeiting games?
Salvaging fan interest
The Mavericks’ fanbase has gone through more than its fair share of heartbreak this season. The decision to trade Luka Doncic has led to daily vitriol and criticisms of the front office scattered over social media and at home games. Despite the negative reaction, there are still thousands of fans who show up to American Airlines Center to support the franchise. Seeing a healthy Davis could cause for a temporary distraction as the Mavericks attempt to finish the season on a positive note.
The case against a return for Davis:
Re-aggravating the injury
There’s one obvious concern with Davis attempting to return for any of the final 13 games of the regular season. There’s a risk that he could either re-aggravate the adductor strain or suffer a new injury altogether. Washington, who returned from a seven-game absence after re-aggravating his right ankle sprain, admitted during the Mavs Ball that he came back from his injury too early. Bringing Davis back for the short-term sounds appealing for the moment, but it’s a decision that could have long-term ramifications if he re-aggravates or suffers a more dire injury.
An uphill battle to be competitive in the playoffs
Let’s say the Mavericks finish the regular season with the 10th seed and find a way to sneak into the playoffs by winning two Play-In games. That feat would secure the eighth seed in the Western Conference. The Oklahoma City Thunder will likely be their first round playoff opponent. The former iteration of the team under Irving’s leadership won three games against the Thunder. Dallas remains the only team in the NBA to beat OKC three times. It’s unlikely that Dallas has the manpower to take on the first-place Thunder, at least not without Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II. Barring a historic upset, the Mavericks would have a short Play-In or playoff window.
An investment into the future
Given the unlikely circumstance of a first-round upset, the Mavericks are likely better suited to lose as much as they can between now and April 13’s season finale against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Mavericks are severely undermanned and they’ve shown a competitive spirt, but the roster isn’t nearly as talented as the one they began the season with. Missing the playoffs would ensure a high first-round pick in this summer’s draft, more likely a late lottery pick, but a lottery pick in a deep draft class nonetheless.
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