Rumors: Mavericks 'hope' unseen two-headed monster returns just in time for playoffs

The story of the season for the Dallas Mavericks has been injuries.

While the Luka Doncic trade will be the most talked about thing about the Mavs' 2024-25 season, they have had an overwhelmingly deterrent injury problem, and it has hurt them hard all year long. This issue started even before the Mavericks traded Doncic, as he had been out since Christmas Day with a calf strain before making his return to the floor on February 10.

The Mavericks traded Doncic partially due to them believing his body wouldn't hold up over the years due to a combination of things including his off-court habits and conditioning, but karma hit the Mavs hard after this trade, as Anthony Davis went down in his debut with an adductor strain.

Despite staying healthy over the last few seasons, Davis getting injured in his first game as a Maverick was extremely ironic when taking into account all of the reasoning behind the trade. Dallas was concerned about Doncic's health, but they traded for a player who used to be notorious for not being able to stay on the court due to injuries.

Mavericks are desperate for Davis and Lively II's return before playoffs

Regardless of Davis' injury, he looked unstoppable in the three quarters he played for the Mavericks, and positive news continues to spew out of Dallas when it comes to his recovery and potential return date. Davis is set to be reevaluated on March 6 along with Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford, and he has started to make progress toward a return through some on-court work, and he traveled with the team for this two-game road trip to California.

Davis hadn't been spotted on the bench during any of Dallas' home games since the injury, and him traveling and beginning to shoot jumpers and participate in limited workouts is a great sign. While it remains unclear when the exact return of Davis will be, ESPN's Tim MacMahon provided some clarity on the Mavericks' dream scenario when it comes to his and Lively II's injuries.

"The Mavs' hope is that Davis and Lively will return in time for the tandem to get several games together at the end of the regular season, sources told ESPN," MacMahon reported.

Both Davis and Lively II returning before the playoffs and getting some run together would be major for both players, as Lively II was out for Davis' debut earlier this month. Davis playing next to Lively II is one of the things that fans were excited about after the trade buzz died down, but it has always been clear that the Davis-Lively II frontcourt would take some time to see in live action. Lively II is dealing with a stress fracture in his ankle and has been sidelined since the middle of January, leaving a major hole at center.

While Lively II doesn't seem to be as far along as Davis in the recovery process, he has begun to shoot as well and do light on-court work, and that is a great sign as well. The Mavericks need both Lively II and Davis back to have any real shot at emerging as contenders, and the way the team is playing without them further justifies that Dallas can be deadly when fully healthy.

Lively II and Davis are both top-five players on the roster, with Davis being the superstar of the team alongside Kyrie Irving, and this ship will go as far as Davis goes. If he can get healthy and develop some chemistry in the frontcourt next to Lively II, then the sky is the limit.

If Davis and or Lively II can't make a return this season, then Dallas' chances of making another deep playoff run drop significantly. The NBA Playoffs are all about star power, and it becomes more clear every day that the Mavs need Davis back.

Their rim protection has been nonexistent recently due to most of their centers being out due to injuries, but that would change completely with Davis and Lively II returning. With Davis at the four and Lively II at the five, teams would be terrified to drive to the rim, and they would have the chance to be the two anchors of a championship-seeking defense.