The Mavericks are stuck in the middle of a wild Western Conference playoff race, where just five games separate seeds six through 11. At 30-26, they’re clinging to the No. 8 spot, but one bad stretch could send them tumbling out of the play-in entirely. And here’s the real headache—every big man on their roster is out. Anthony Davis (adductor strain), Dereck Lively II (ankle stress fracture), and Daniel Gafford (knee strain) are all sidelined.

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When Dallas made the move for Davis, the plan was clear—slot him in at power forward. Pairing him with Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford would’ve given them one of the NBA’s biggest frontcourts. That size could’ve been a serious problem for opponents. Now? That vision is on hold.

At least for two weeks. Dereck Lively II is finally out of the walking boot after dealing with a right ankle stress fracture, but his return isn’t set yet. AD also continues to recover from the left adductor strain he suffered against Houston on Feb. 8, but he’s not ready yet. The Mavericks plan to re-evaluate him in two weeks, leaving his return timeline uncertain.

Jason Kidd calls March 6 the “big evaluation” day, when the Mavericks will “give an update on the bigs (Lively, Gafford, and Davis).” That date will be crucial in determining when Dallas can expect its frontcourt back.

Dallas has a three-game lead over the Suns for the No. 11 seed, but that gap can shrink fast. Winning games now is crucial, and missing key bigs isn’t making things any easier. That’s why getting reinforcements back matters.

One positive? P.J. Washington is close to returning after an ankle sprain kept him out for three games before the All-Star break. The timing couldn’t be better.

Before March 6, the Mavericks have some winnable matchups. They face the Pelicans on Friday and the Hornets on Feb. 27. Then, it’s a tough West Coast trip—Golden State on Sunday, followed by a showdown with Luka Doncic’s Lakers on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, they have made an emergency signing to amp up their depleted front court.

Did the Mavericks make a mistake in hopes Anthony Davis will be back for playoffs?

Dallas is rolling the dice on Moses Brown, signing him to a 10-day contract to help cover for their depleted frontcourt. With Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford all sidelined, they needed size, and fast. Brown, who had a brief stint with the team in 2021-22, now gets another shot.

But here’s the catch—this move means Dallas can’t sign anyone else until April 10. It’s a gamble, but at this point, what choice did they have? The Mavericks can’t afford to keep running small, and Brown at least brings some shot-blocking.

Injuries have already made this season a nightmare. If P.J. Washington or Dwight Powell go down next, things could spiral. The team just has to weather the storm and pray another key player doesn’t land on the injury report.

Dallas had already taken a swing at adding depth by signing Kylor Kelley to a two-way deal, but Jason Kidd hasn’t given him much run. Even when he was the only available big, his minutes were limited.

Brown didn’t exactly light it up in his first Mavericks stint, averaging just 6.5 minutes in 26 games. But he’s looked strong in the G League this season, putting up 15.6 points and 15.1 boards for the Westchester Knicks.

For now, Dallas just needs Powell and Washington back as soon as possible. With Lively and Gafford possibly out until April, they’re running on fumes.