The Dallas Mavericks plan to keep Anthony Davis sidelined for at least another 7 to 10 days as he continues to recover from a left calf strain, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. Davis was set to miss his ninth straight game Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers, extending what has become another worrisome chapter in his injury-marred debut with Dallas.
The conservative approach represents a stark shift from the internal friction that unfolded behind the scenes before the recent front-office shakeup.
Harrison’s Push for an Early Return Was Final Straw Before Firing
Getty Dallas Mavericks fans got their wish.
Before he was fired last week, former Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison reportedly pushed for Davis to return before team doctors cleared him, according to The Athletic. The front office’s handling of Davis’ latest injury became one of the final straws leading to Harrison’s dismissal.
“Multiple league sources said Davis has tried to convince the Mavs to let him return to the court, and Harrison urged him to return, but the team’s medical staff forbade it, citing the potential for a torn Achilles if Davis returned too soon,” The Athletic reported.
The possibility of a catastrophic Achilles injury elevated the team’s medical staff into direct conflict with the front office — an internal battle that reached all the way to ownership.
Owner Patrick Dumont Steps In to Slow Down Return
GettyDallas Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont penned an open letter to fans after firing general manager Nico Harrison on Tuesday, November 11.
According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, team governor Patrick Dumont personally stepped into the decision-making process during Davis’ evaluation.
“Patrick Dumont got involved in the decision-making here before Saturday (Nov. 8) night,” MacMahon said on NBA Today while discussing Davis’ availability ahead of the Nov. 10 matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. “He was on the side of ‘Let’s err on the side of caution.’ I’m not saying that he made the decision, but the fact that the owner felt the need to become involved — that is a significant development in and of itself.”
Dumont’s involvement underscored the gravity of Davis’ situation — and the organization’s fear of making a mistake that could define the franchise’s future.
Durability Questions Follow Davis to Dallas
Davis’ availability has been a recurring concern throughout his career, and his tenure in Dallas has offered no relief. He played only nine games last season due to an adductor strain, then underwent retina surgery on his right eye during the offseason.
He arrived at training camp 15 pounds heavier, weighing 268 pounds, per The Athletic.
ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson publicly questioned whether the weight gain contributed to the calf strain.
“How many times have we seen players come into camp overweight and then deal with calf or lower-leg injuries?” Jefferson said on the Road Trippin’ Podcast. “If you told me eight games in that Anthony Davis would have Achilles soreness, I’d believe it.”
Trade Fallout: Mavericks Face Same Issues They Tried to Escape
Ironically, Dallas acquired Davis in a blockbuster deal last season to escape what they viewed as an exhausting cycle of Luka Dončić’s injuries, conditioning issues, and inconsistency.
Instead, the Mavericks now find themselves back in the same predicament — only without their franchise cornerstone and with significantly fewer resources.
The team no longer controls its own first-round picks from 2027 to 2030, the cost of aggressive trades made under Harrison to build around Dončić before dealing him away.
With Davis now sidelined indefinitely, the risk of history repeating itself looms over the organization.
Rich Paul’s Relationship With Ownership Could Shape Davis’ Future
According to Stein, Davis’ agent Rich Paul has built a “strong relationship” with Dumont since the trade and the two “are in regular contact.”
That dynamic could factor heavily into how Dallas handles Davis moving forward — particularly after the front-office overhaul.
Davis, 32, is under contract through 2027 and holds a player option for 2027-28, giving the Mavericks both a significant commitment and a difficult decision.
A Defining Decision Awaits the Next Mavericks General Manager
Whoever replaces Harrison on a permanent basis will immediately face one of the franchise’s most consequential questions: Is Anthony Davis still the long-term centerpiece in Dallas?
For now, the Mavericks are choosing caution. The stakes — financially, medically and organizationally — have rarely been higher.
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