NBA Rumors: Dallas Mavericks could make drastic roster move ahead of NBA play-in tournament

The Dallas Mavericks’ season has been shaped by bad luck. Injuries hit the team hard at crucial moments. Key players like Dante Exum, Kyrie Irving, Daniel Gafford, and Anthony Davis missed significant time. Some of them have already returned to the court. However, their long absence affected the team’s performance. Despite the setbacks, they still hold a play-in spot in the Western Conference. The team remains focused on making the NBA playoffs. To boost their chances, they could make a bold roster move soon.

According to The Stein Line, the Dallas Mavericks have shown interest in adding Brandon Williams and Kessler Edwards to their roster for the upcoming NBA Play-In Tournament. However, league rules prevent the move, as both players have already reached the maximum number of games allowed with the team this season.

To make room for either of them, the Mavericks would need to open a roster spot, potentially by releasing Dante Exum. While Exum has played a meaningful role when available, his season has been plagued by injuries, limiting him to just 18 appearances.

Given the Mavericks’ push for a playoff berth, parting ways with Exum appears to be the most realistic option. Releasing Kyrie Irving, on the other hand, is entirely off the table, as he remains one of the franchise’s most important players. Nevertheless, it does not mean that Mavs will certainly cut Dante from the roster as the decision has not been made yet.

Dante Exum #0 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball against Kyle Anderson #20 of the Miami Heat in the first half at American Airlines Center on February 13, 2025 in Dallas, Texas.

Anthony Davis receives major praise from teammate after return from injury

Since Anthony Davis returned, the Dallas Mavericks have not lost a single game with him on the court. He has scored more than 12 points in every appearance. But his value goes far beyond the stat sheet. His presence helps organize both the offense and defense. The team looks more balanced when he plays. After another strong performance, teammate Daniel Gafford spoke about what Davis means to the group.

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NBA News: Mavericks star Anthony Davis loses key teammate for part of the regular season

“First off, it’s just the love of the game, for sure…And to be able to just want to be able to come back and just make an impact for the team, that says a lot about him because he wants to be out there helping the team as much as he can,” explained Daniel Gafford to Joey Mistretta.