Dallas Mavericks: How does Kawhi Leonard injury impact the Mavs?

The Dallas Mavericks are eager to improve their roster this summer. They can create about $34 million in cap space if renounce their cap holds, move on from Josh Richardson, and decline Willie Cauley-Stein’s player option. Kawhi Leonard is the marquee free agent, and he will be the Mavs’ number one target. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor rumored Dallas as one of the top threats to steal the Klaw away from LA.

Acquiring Kawhi Leonard would instantly vault the Mavericks into title contention. They would feature two of the top ten players in the league. Luka Doncic proved his superstar status in the playoffs, but it was Leonard that got the last laugh. Kawhi guarded Luka more as the series progressed was a key reason why the Clippers advanced.

Leonard suffered a knee injury in Game 4 of LA’s second-round series against the Utah Jazz. He missed the final two contests, plus the entire Western Conference Finals series with an ACL injury. The Clippers announced on July 13 that Kawhi had surgery to repair a partial tear. Here is a closer look at what that means and how his injury impacts Dallas.

How does the Kawhi Leonard injury impact the Dallas Mavericks?

Jeff Stotts from In Street Clothes offered this medical tidbit about the type of injury and surgery Kawhi underwent.

Six months puts Leonard out until mid-January at the earliest. He will miss a significant portion of the regular season. It further complicates the 6’7 forward’s player option too. Does he opt out now? A max contract will still be waiting from multiple suitors, but it would mean taking less long-term money than re-signing with the Clippers.

Here are the four ways the Kawhi Leonard injury impacts the Dallas Mavericks.

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