Mavericks acting out Marcus Sasseroffseason acquisition, missed the first three preseason games with a left adductor injury he suffered in practice, but the head coach Dusty May said Thursday that Sasser is expected to be active for Dallas’ preseason finale on Friday, writes Grant Offset of the Dallas Sports Journal.
While Sasser is set to make his Mavericks debut, the forward Saint Aldama will have to wait a little longer to suit up for his new team. Aldama, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in March, is “progressing” and “getting closer” to playing, but according to May, he will not be available on Friday (story via Afseth).
The Mavericks are dealing with a couple more minor injuries in their frontcourt as Morez Johnson Jr (shin splints) and Moussa Cisse (sprained left ankle) work in the direction of return. Johnson missed Dallas’ last two preseason contests but is “very close” to returning, May said Thursday (story via Afseth).
As for Cisse, he tweaked his ankle and left Wednesday’s game against New Orleans early, but his injury is not significant. According to Maye, Cisse did not practice Thursday, but his absence was considered precautionary and if there was a regular-season game today, he likely could be available for it.
“They’ll check the tumor, especially in an exhibition game, we’re not going to put the guy out.” May said (Link to Twitter via Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News ). “We can risk further injuries because the season is so long.”
We’ve got more on the Mavs:
- While the veteran is a great man Dwight Powell is the only one of Dallas’ 16 players on standard contracts without a fully guaranteed salary, it appears the Mavs are seriously considering adding him to the regular season lineup. “Dwight has been very valuable to us so far,” May said Thursday when asked about Powell (Link to video on Twitter via Noah Weber of The Smoking Cuban). “I think it’s obvious when he’s on the floor, we work well. It’s been a joy to meet him and be around him. … Dwight, he’s been very, very good to us.” May left the decision on whether Powell would make the team up to the front office.
- The Mavericks have yet to settle on the starting five they plan to use to open the regular season, as The Athletic’s Christian Clark passes the baton (via Twitter). “I don’t know when we’ll settle into the starting line-up or if we will.” May said on Wednesday. “I think this is a team, for a number of reasons, that could see a different lineup every night, depending on who’s healthy and the combinations — who plays best together.”
- with Kyrie Irving sat out Wednesday with Sasser still out with an adductor injury, a rookie Sergio de Laurea played a significant role off the bench with 10 points and 6 assists in 30 minutes of play. How Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com writes, May acknowledged after the game that de Laurea is “making a case” to be part of the regular-season rotation despite his five turnovers. “He shot really well in games and scrimmages,” Coach Maws said. “Turnovers, partly because we don’t give him enough help and don’t have enough playmakers and ball handlers on the court all the time. But he’s a very, very confident player. He makes his teammates better. We’re very, very happy with his progress so far.”
