Can Dallas Mavericks survive without Anthony Davis and center rotation in the regular season? Schedule, roster depth, and more explored

After shelling out what appeared to be a king's ransom to acquire Anthony Davis, the Dallas Mavericks now find themselves without their All-Star center for an extended period. Davis played just one game with the Mavs before going down with a left adductor strain against the Houston Rockets on Feb. 8.

Per NBA Insider Shams Charania, the center is expected to miss "multiple weeks" and the recovery time could "stretch to over a month."

The blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis was one that left the basketball world stunned. Mavs GM Nico Harrison tried to reassure the media and Dallas' loyal fanbase that this was the best move for the organization. Harrison emphasized that Dallas is looking to build a winning team now, and he felt that Davis would give them the best chance.

After the injury-prone Anthony Davis was sidelined in his first game, the risky trade could potentially become a turning point for the Mavericks' season. The big man is set to miss a significant portion of the campaign, raising the question of whether the Mavericks can weather the storm in the absence of one of the league's top players.

Can Dallas Mavericks survive without Anthony Davis and center rotation in the regular season?

Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis leaves the game against the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Center. Photo Credit: Imagn

Playoff qualification

The Dallas Mavericks have made the postseason in four of the last five seasons. They are coming off an incredible year where Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving led the franchise all the way to the NBA finals. Unfortunately, they fell just short, losing to the Boston Celtics in five games.

Currently, Dallas is hovering in eighth-place in the Western Conference standings with a 30-26 record, barely holding on to a play-in position. They are only two games behind the sixth-place LA Clippers, but must also keep an eye on the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns, who are hot on their heels.

According to the format introduced for the 2020-21 season, six teams will automatically qualify for the playoffs, while another four will face off in a play-in tournament for the final two spots.

Schedule

Dallas will be looking to break into the top six over the next few weeks. February provides Jason Kidd's team with a run of winnable game. Next up on the schedule is the lowly New Orleans Pelicans, a team that has won just 13 games this season. Road games against the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 23 and LA Lakers on Feb. 25 will be crucial as well.

However, March presents a challenging stretch for the Mavericks, with eight of their 15 games against teams with a .500 record or better. This tough schedule includes two games against the Milwaukee Bucks (29-24), and games against the Memphis Grizzlies (36-18), Houston Rockets (34-21) and New York Knicks (36-18). They also have to play a Victor Wembanyama-led San Antonio Spurs team that has achieved some notable wins this season.

The Mavs' hopes for a playoff berth might hinge on the final few games of the season. Dallas closes out the 2024-25 campaign with a home game against the Lakers, followed by a road game against the Grizzlies.

Roster depth

Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis and guard Kyrie Irving celebrates after Davis dunks at the American Airlines Center. Photo Credit: Imagn

Over the last three games without Anthony Davis, the Mavs went with a smaller lineup. The strategy seems to have paid off, with Dallas winning two of the three games.

However, injury concerns are pilling up for the team. Centers Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford and Dwight Powell are all injured and have been missing games over the last month. Power forward PJ Washington has also been dealing with an ankle issue. The long list of injuries leaves the Mavericks thin in the frontcourt. Kesler Edwards (6-foot-7) and Olivier-Maxence Prosper (6-foot-7) are temporarily being relied on to fill the void.

Bringing in a back-up center

Following Mark Williams' failed medical with the Charlotte Hornets, the Lakers swiftly entered the market for a backup center. The Mavericks could learn from the Lakers' decisive move and bring in a big man to fill the void at the position.

Anthony Davis, a 10-time All-Star, former NBA champion and one of the league's most dominant defenders, will be difficult to replace. However, the Mavericks could mitigate the loss by bringing in an established and experienced big man. JaVale McGee is one player who could help the organization get through this rough patch.