RADIO
Santi Aldama Doubtful For Wednesday's Matchup With Rockets
According to Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com, Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May said forward Santi Aldama (knee) was limited in practice and is unlikely to play in the team's regular-season opener against Houston. However, May noted that Aldama is "getting very close" to returning. The 25-year-old missed all four preseason games while recovering from an arthroscopic right knee procedure on March 17 and an orthobiologic injection. Aldama averaged 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.6 three-pointers last season. Given his extended absence, he could face a minutes restriction when he returns to action.
Source: Grant Afseth
Source: Grant Afseth
Santi Aldama Remains Without Return Timetable
Dallas Mavericks forward Santi Aldama (knee) remains without a return timetable, with head coach Dusty May telling Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News that he still doesn't know whether Aldama will play Wednesday against Houston. The 25-year-old missed all four preseason games while recovering from a March 17 arthroscopic procedure and orthobiologic injection, though May said he practiced well Sunday. Aldama averaged 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.6 threes last season. Even if cleared for the opener, his lengthy layoff makes an immediate full workload uncertain.
Source: Mike Curtis
Source: Mike Curtis
Cooper Flagg Dishes Seven Assists in Win Over Rockets
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Cooper Flagg recorded 14 points, four rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and one block in 25 minutes during Sunday's 132-115 preseason win over the Houston Rockets in Macao. He struggled from the field at 3-for-10 and 1-for-4 from three but went 7-for-8 at the line. Flagg totaled 10 assists across the two China Games, offering an early look at an expanded playmaking role. The reigning Rookie of the Year averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists last season. Improving on his 29.5 percent shooting from three would add another layer to an already well-rounded fantasy profile.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Morez Johnson Jr. Limited by Lower-Leg Soreness in Camp
Dallas Mavericks forward Morez Johnson Jr. (lower leg) is being eased through training camp because of soreness, according to Ron Harrod Jr. of DLLS Sports. Head coach Dusty May said Dallas is managing the rookie's workload and that Johnson participated in every other live session during Wednesday's practice. The No. 9 pick averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks on 62.3 percent shooting for Michigan last season before posting 18.5 points, 2.5 steals, and 3.0 blocks across two Summer League games. With Santi Aldama (knee) and Dereck Lively II (foot) also limited, Johnson has an opportunity to push for rotation minutes once he is fully participating.
Source: Ron Harrod Jr.
Source: Ron Harrod Jr.
Morez Johnson Jr. Limited Early in Mavericks Camp
Dallas Mavericks forward Morez Johnson Jr. (undisclosed) has been limited early in training camp but is getting closer to full participation, according to Grant Afseth of the Dallas Sports Journal. Head coach Dusty May said the rookie is "working his way back" and is "close" without revealing what has been limiting him. The No. 9 overall pick averaged 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 3.0 blocks across two Summer League games before an illness sidelined him for the final three. Dereck Lively II (foot) and Santi Aldama (knee) have also been limited in camp. May expects Johnson to work his way into the rotation, but his role in a crowded Dallas frontcourt is still taking shape.
Source: Grant Afseth
Source: Grant Afseth
Santi Aldama Limited by Nagging Injury at Mavericks Camp
Dallas Mavericks forward Santi Aldama (undisclosed) was limited during Saturday's practice while dealing with a "nagging injury," according to Noah Weber. Head coach Dusty May said he didn't know the specifics, though Aldama was seen with tape on his knee. The 25-year-old underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee in March after averaging 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.6 combined steals and blocks across 43 games with Memphis. Dallas has not linked the current issue to that knee, so there is no reason for major concern yet. Still, his status is worth monitoring with Dereck Lively II (foot) also working his way back.
Source: Noah Weber
Source: Noah Weber
Naji Marshall Backed by Mavericks GM Mike Schmitz
Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall received strong public backing from general manager Mike Schmitz after signing a three-year, $52.2 million extension. Schmitz used a Friday appearance on 1310 The Ticket to praise Marshall's toughness, versatility, feel and ability to play with or without the ball. The 28-year-old averaged 15.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 29.5 minutes last season while shooting 51.0 percent from the field, though his 29.1 percent mark from three remains the swing skill. Klay Thompson's buyout removes one veteran wing, but Dallas still has a crowded forward mix around Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington, Max Christie and Zaccharie Risacher. Marshall's role looks stable enough to keep him in the late-round fantasy conversation, with more upside if the jumper improves.
Source: Grant Afseth
Source: Grant Afseth
Santi Aldama Sits Out Spain Qualifiers
Dallas Mavericks forward/center Santi Aldama will sit out Spain's upcoming FIBA World Cup 2027 qualifying window as he continues working back from right knee surgery. The Spanish Basketball Federation announced that Aldama will miss training camp and the games against Portugal and Greece, with both sides deciding not to rush his recovery before his first season in Dallas. The 25-year-old averaged 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists and shot 35.0 percent from three across 43 games last season. The fantasy appeal is real if the minutes are there, but Dallas' frontcourt is crowded, with Cooper Flagg and P.J. Washington absorbing forward minutes while Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II handle the middle, leaving Aldama's role as the key swing factor.
Source: Basketnews
Source: Basketnews
P.J. Washington Confident He Stays in Dallas
Dallas Mavericks forward/center P.J. Washington expects to open the season in Dallas despite spending much of the offseason in trade rumors. In an interview with DLLS Mavs' Kevin Gray Jr., Washington said he is "super confident" he will be a Maverick on Opening Night after long talks with team president Masai Ujiri and general manager Mike Schmitz. Marc Stein previously reported that Washington was among the veterans Dallas was viewed as open to trading, but the 27-year-old sounds committed to staying put. Washington averaged 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists last season, giving him useful category appeal if the minutes hold. A forward-heavy roster built around Cooper Flagg and recently extended Naji Marshall could still squeeze his ceiling, but Washington remains a viable late-round fantasy piece if he keeps a steady role.
Source: Kevin Gray Jr.
Source: Kevin Gray Jr.
Tarik Biberovic Eyes Real NBA Role with Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks forward Tarik Biberovic is treating his NBA arrival as a starting point, telling Anadolu Agency that he wants to earn minutes and grow into one of the team's most reliable players. The 25-year-old said he will "start from zero" after an emotional exit from Fenerbahce, where he spent eight seasons and credited Sarunas Jasikevicius for helping unlock his game. Biberovic averaged 11.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 41.9 percent from deep across 41 EuroLeague games last season. The shooting is real, but he remains off fantasy radars while fighting for minutes in a crowded Dallas wing mix featuring Cooper Flagg, Naji Marshall, and Caleb Martin.
Source: Eurohoops
Source: Eurohoops
Mavericks Seek First-Rounder for Daniel Gafford
Dallas Mavericks forward/center Daniel Gafford remains available for the right price, with Evan Sidery reporting that Dallas is seeking a protected first-round pick in a deal. The 27-year-old is signed through 2028-29 at roughly $18.1 million annually, so Dallas does not have to dump him. Gafford averaged 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 21.7 minutes last season while shooting 65.5% from the field, keeping him useful as a low-usage fantasy center. A trade would likely hurt Dereck Lively II's insurance value less than it would open minutes for Morez Johnson Jr. and Moussa Cisse, who would move closer to the nightly center mix.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Mavericks Shop P.J. Washington
The Dallas Mavericks are shopping forward/center P.J. Washington in trade talks, per Evan Sidery. Dallas has a crowded frontcourt after extending Naji Marshall and adding rookie Morez Johnson Jr., creating a potential minutes squeeze for Washington. The 27-year-old is under contract through 2029-30 on a four-year, $88.76 million extension, giving the Mavericks a sizable salary-matching piece if they pursue a consolidation trade. Washington played a career-low 56 games last season, averaging 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 1.4 threes while shooting 32.5 percent from deep. A trade to a team that starts him would help preserve his rebounds, threes, and defensive-stat value, while staying in Dallas could leave him fighting for touches in a crowded rotation.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Cooper Flagg Eyes 2028 Team USA Spot
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Cooper Flagg intends to commit to Team USA for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, per Evan Sidery. Flagg, 19, is already tracking as one of the program's top young options after a historic rookie season in Dallas. He averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals while leading the Mavericks in total points, rebounds, assists, and steals, joining Michael Jordan as the only rookies to do so since steals became official. The Olympic news is not directly actionable for fantasy, but it reinforces Flagg's long-term ceiling. He remains an elite dynasty cornerstone and a strong early-round target this season.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Santi Aldama Leads Spain in World Cup Qualifiers
Dallas Mavericks forward/center Santi Aldama is back on the floor, headlining a 15-man Spain squad for the upcoming FIBA World Cup 2027 qualifying window, per Eurohoops. The return is a positive health signal after season-ending right knee surgery in March cut his 2025-26 to 43 games. The bigger NBA-fantasy story, though, is his new address: Memphis traded Aldama to Dallas on July 1, moving him from a featured rotation role, where he posted career highs of 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists on 35.0 percent from deep, into a crowded frontcourt. Behind P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II in a crowded Dallas frontcourt, Aldama's minutes and touches figure to shrink. His well-rounded game keeps deep-league appeal, but temper expectations until the Mavericks' rotation sorts out.
Source: Eurohoops
Source: Eurohoops
Mavericks Cut Two-Way Forward Tyler Smith
Dallas is cutting loose two-way forward Tyler Smith, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the latest stop in a well-traveled season for the 33rd pick in the 2024 draft. Smith managed just 4.7 points in 13.8 minutes across 12 games with the Mavericks, though he kept producing in the G League, averaging 15.9 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. At 21, he still flashes stretch-four upside, but Dallas's crowded frontcourt of P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, Santi Aldama, and Morez Johnson Jr. left no runway. He holds no standard-league value, and the constant roster churn keeps him a distant deep-dynasty name at most.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
