How Mavericks prepare for Wednesday’s season opener against the Rockets, they are still waiting to determine the status Saint Aldamawho is expected to be the team’s key reserve this season.
Aldama remains without a return schedule after arthroscopic procedure In March, he suffered an injury to his right knee, and the head coach Dusty May says he “doesn’t know yet” if the Spanish big man will be ready for the season opener, according to Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News (Link to Twitter).
Aldama’s ability to space the floor and create his own shot allows him to bring a different skill set than any of the other big men currently on the roster and should make him an easy fit with any of them, which could be key to unlocking May’s different looks.
While the Mavericks’ offseason moves looked like they would create frontcourt congestion, lingering injuries to Aldama and Derek Lively II allowed the team to explore the capabilities of their deep bench. There is still some uncertainty as to who will fill the final spot on the team’s 15-man roster, a decision that could be made by a longtime veteran Dwight Powell against a young blocker Moussa Cisse.
We have more from the Mavs:
- Another frontcourt player who will be crucial in complementing the star duo Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg there is PJ Washington. In Friday’s loss to the Hawks, in which Dallas produced a facsimile of its good lineup, Washington made eight 3-point attempts, many of them catch-and-shoots, and hit two of them. The veteran forward looks set to have a healthy diet of those looks this season, and his ability to knock them down could be a major x-factor for the team. Christian Clark writes for The Athletic. Most of all, he needs to be ready to shoot, even if he misses. “A reluctant open shooter is analytically and statistically very detrimental to your offensive flowMay said.
- Sergio De LaureaThe 6-foot-6 point guard, selected 25th overall in the 2026 draft, had an intriguing preseason, playing four games and averaging 9.5 points, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks in 25.5 minutes per game while making 8 of 12 three-pointers. With Irving in and out of the lineup, de Laurea led the team in assists with 20 in the preseason. The Mavericks’ backcourt is relatively thin, and Clarke says he wouldn’t be surprised if the rookie is in Maye’s first rotation on Wednesday.
- The Mavericks’ other first-round pick, Morez Johnson Jrplayed in just two preseason games as he dealt with a lower-body injury, but Clarke said Maye seems to value the power forward’s motor skills and ability to read both ends of the floor. His mobility has allowed Maye to experiment with run-heavy defenses, which should make Johnson an interesting option alongside Flagg, who is just as versatile on defense. Despite having played just 26 minutes before the season opener, Johnson is expected to be part of the team’s rotation on Wednesday.
