ESPN insider details Mavericks' potential forfeiting a game scenario amid injuries

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The Dallas Mavericks, now 33-35 following their second consecutive loss, a 133-96 defeat to the Houston Rockets on Friday night, find themselves in an unprecedented situation. The Mavericks suffered yet another devastating injury in the loss, as Dante Exum fractured his left hand, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.

Exum joins a growing injury list that includes Kyrie Irving (torn ACL) and Olivier Maxence-Prosper (right wrist injury), both of whom are also out for the season. The Mavericks recently provided updates on Anthony Davis (left adductor strain), Dereck Lively II (right ankle stress fracture), and Daniel Gafford (right knee sprain), stating that all three are improving but without providing a timetable for their return.

Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain) and Kai Jones (quad) have not played since March 3, while P.J. Washington (right ankle sprain) has been out since March 1.

The only active players on the Mavericks roster are Brandon Williams, Dwight Powell, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Caleb Martin, Max Christie, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Kessler Edwards, leaving them with just eight available players. However, this number could soon dwindle further due to league restrictions on two-way players.

Mavericks face roster crisis as two-way player limits threaten forfeiture

Williams and Edwards are both two-way players, and according to G League rules, they can only be active for up to 50 games with their NBA team. Edwards has already been available for 47 games, while Williams has been available for 44, meaning they only have three and six games remaining, respectively.

Edwards will be eligible to play in the next three games: Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers (22-44), Wednesday at the Indiana Pacers (37-28), and Friday against the Detroit Pistons (37-30). However, once those games conclude, the Mavericks could face a dire situation when they take on the Brooklyn Nets (22-44) on March 24. As Edwards would reach his limit and Williams approaching his maximum availability, Dallas faces the risk of having only seven eligible players, which could force the team to forfeit.

ESPN's Bobby Marks outlined that the Mavericks do not have the flexibility to sign additional players due to financial constraints. They are just $51,000 under the first apron hard cap, meaning they are unable to add any new players to the roster.

Mavs’ hard cap restrictions leave no roster flexibility amid injury woes

According to Marks, last offseason's Klay Thompson sign-and-trade and the signing of Naji Marshall triggered the first apron hard cap, which prevents the team from exceeding it under any circumstances.

"I see people talking about, oh, it’s a luxury tax issue. The owners don’t want to spend. No, there is no exception to be made," Marks said. "The league is not going to say all of a sudden because Dallas has all these injuries, 'you can go out and sign players whether it be 10-day players, whether it be to extend the two-way players.' It is what it is. The rule is the rule here, and certainly for a Mavericks team that is contending for a play-in spot."

Marks further suggested that the only potential workaround for Dallas would be to manipulate the injury report.

"What you'll likely see is some of these injured players actually get dressed and be on the active list," Marks added. "Basically, Dallas would have to lie on the injury report and say that whether it be Anthony Davis or Daniel Gafford or Dereck Lively are healthy and able to play when we all know that they are not healthy."

The Mavericks' situation has continued to decline since trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of the February 2 deal that brought Anthony Davis and Max Christie to Dallas. Since the trade, the Mavericks have posted a 7-12 record and have lost eight of their last 10 games, jeopardizing their play-in hopes amid their mounting injury crisis.

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