In his less than a year tenure with the Dallas Mavericks, it will be the third time that Anthony Davis will be missing from action for a long time due to an injury. On Thursday, Davis exited the game with ligament damage in his left hand while trying to defend Lauri Markkanen in the fourth quarter. The injury took place in the midst of the trade plans that the Mavs were carving out for their big man. With his trade market at the lowest point for Davis, Jason Kidd had a special message for him.

Currently, there is no clarity on Davis’ absence from action, and he is expected to miss at least six weeks. However, the 2020 NBA champion will also see a specialist to see if surgery is needed, which will keep him out for months. This is not just an unfortunate situation for Davis, but also for Dallas, which made a trade for him to fulfill their championship dream.

A series of three serious injuries in less than a year’s stint with the team is tough enough for Davis, but Kidd wants him to make a decision. “Patience is the keyword there,” Kidd said. “He’s gotta make a decision on what he wants to do…At some point, he’ll make a decision of what he’ gonna do.”

Davis tried to remain in the game even after the injury occurred because he didn’t know the severity of it. The Mavs ended up losing to the Jazz team. Following the loss, Kidd gave a blunt assessment of the Mavs’ injury struggles in the last two seasons.

“I don’t think it’s tough. I think that’s our norm with injuries or sickness,” Kidd said, via Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News.

Following Kyrie Irving’s ACL injury and Davis’ third significant injury in his short stint with the team, it is not astounding to see that the Mavs’ coach was immune to the shock of his players’ injuries.

What’s next for the Mavericks after Anthony Davis’ injury?

It would be superstitious to suggest that the Mavs’ trading of their franchise player brought misfortune upon them. However, everything that has happened since then is nothing less than a tragedy. Dallas didn’t become a bad team without Luka Doncic, but injury hit them the hardest.

They lost Kyrie Irving to an ACL just a month after the trade, and there wouldn’t be enough to say about Anthony Davis’ injury.

Top Stories

Steve Kerr Explains the Problem With Jonathan Kuminga After Tanking His Trade Value

Jimmy Butler Shows No Mercy to Warriors Teammate After Humiliating Moment vs Kings

Is Victor Wembanyama Dating Khloe Kardashian? Fact-Checking Viral Post About Spurs Star

“Shameful”: Steve Kerr Issues Strong Statement on Fatal Minneapolis Shooting

Giannis Antetokounmpo Can Save Stephen Curry’s Warriors as Steve Kerr’s Job Hangs in Balance, Per Insider

The only silver lining in everything that has happened in the last year is their 2025 No.1 pick, Cooper Flagg. He is the piece that the Mavs should consider when thinking about their future. The Mavs could still put up a big fight if they want to, but it wouldn’t be strictly in their best interest for their future.

Let’s get a clear picture of their future.

The Mavs owe Davis $58.5 million in the next season, and he has a $62.8 million player option in 2027-28. Given his current health and his value at the lowest, no team would be willing to make a trade for him. In 2027-28, the Mavs will owe $105.2 million to Davis and Irving combined. The salaries of both these players make it difficult for them to make a serious trade.

The best way out of this is tanking.

Dallas doesn’t have 2nd second-round pick until 2030. Moreover, none of their first-round draft picks are protected until 2031, except for the 2026 pick. The Charlotte Hornets control their top two picks in 2027.

The OKC Thunder will swap the Mavs’ first-round pick in 2028. In 2029 and 2030, the Mavericks will swap their first-round picks with San Antonio and Houston.

The only way that Dallas could make the best out of this situation is by tanking. If they tank this season, they have a chance to move higher in draft picks. Even if the next few years don’t work out, they will have Flagg and another young player to build around.