Mavericks' center depth goes from strength to question mark after Morez Johnson update

The Dallas Mavericks' center depth was supposed to be one of the team's biggest strengths heading into the 2026-27 season. Santi Aldama and Morez Johnson Jr. were added through the draft and trade market to a frontcourt that already featured Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford, giving Dusty May endless options who bring versatility, rim pressure, and even some shooting.

Morez Johnson Jr. is limited at training camp

Despite the potential firepower this group can bring when fully healthy, they are not close to being fully healthy right now. Lively II still hasn't fully recovered from his December foot surgery, Aldama has been limited in practice as he recovers from a March knee surgery, and Johnson Jr. has joined the group of players who have been limited in practice.

"He's working his way back," May said. "He's close."

Naji Marshall alluded to Johnson Jr. being limited during training camp on Sunday, and Dusty May confirmed this on Monday. While May didn't say why Johnson Jr. has been limited, the fact that he hasn't been a full participant in practice is a bit concerning.

Why Dallas' frontcourt looks uncertain right now

The Mavericks' big men looked like one of their biggest strengths before the season for the second year in a row, but the chatter surrounding Johnson Jr. over the first few days of training camp puts this into question.

The odds of Lively II being ready for the start of the regular season seem to be slim to none, and while Johnson Jr. could be back to being fully active in a few days, the uncertainty surrounding whatever he is dealing with will be at the front of Mavs fans' minds until more context is provided.

If Johnson Jr. happens to miss time and somehow isn't ready for the season opener in about three weeks, May would be down to just Daniel Gafford, Moussa Cisse, and Aldama. This doesn't even account for the fact that Aldama hasn't been a full participant in practice yet.

May's center rotation seems to be the team's biggest uncertainty with their first preseason game being just 11 days away, and Johnson Jr. not being able to play in any of these games would quietly be a blow that Dallas should want to avoid.

His long-term availability is far more important than exhibition games, but these matches would allow the coaching staff to evaluate his game against NBA talent, help him gain chemistry with his teammates, and even prove that he deserves to start. But if he can't play, this idea is anything but a reality.

May's update on Johnson Jr., regardless of the confidence that he's "close," makes an already banged-up group look even more volatile, and his health could be one of the biggest talking points surrounding the team as training camp progresses. Being without Lively II and Aldama was already bad enough. Adding Rez to that group is not ideal.

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