Mavericks already have a massive Anthony Davis problem they can't fix

The Dallas Mavericks made one of the most stunning trades in NBA history about a month and a half ago on February 1 when they traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, and things have gone horribly for Dallas ever since. Fans immediately knew that trading Doncic before he hit his prime would have negative consequences, but no one could have predicted the disaster that is currently going on in Dallas.

The Mavericks are in danger of having to forfeit games because of how many players are injured, and that long list of injured Mavericks includes Davis. He ended up having an excellent debut with the Mavs on February 8 against the Houston Rockets, but his afternoon ended prematurely as he got injured in the third quarter of that game and hasn't played since. Davis was optimistic that his injury wasn't serious when asked about it after the game, but it was later reported that he suffered an adductor strain, throwing a major wrench into Dallas' season.

The Mavericks have now lost 10 of their last 12 games at the most important part of the season with the playoffs being a month away, but Davis' return is on the horizon. Davis practiced with the Texas Legends on Monday to ramp up his activity for a return to the floor soon, and fans could end up seeing him play in a game as soon as this week with Dallas scheduled to play the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night and the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.

Anthony Davis' return could backfire for Mavericks

Davis returning to the floor would undoubtedly help Dallas string together some wins amid this dreary season that continues to drag on, but him returning naturally creates a risky issue that may not even be worth it in the long run.

With Davis returning to the floor this season, he would be at risk of re-injuring his adductor, which could result in him having to have surgery and adding a major setback to his offseason training regimen. Davis not having a full offseason of training would be less than ideal since this will be his first offseason in Dallas, and it would add another serious injury to his lengthy injury history. That is the last thing that the Mavericks need right now, and the long-term health of their new franchise player should be their top priority rather than the potential of winning a few play-in games.

Early reporting indicates that Davis is eager to get back on the floor, just as he was at the beginning of his journey in Dallas (which led to him getting injured as he likely returned too soon), and the Mavericks must be strategic with how they approach this. They undoubtedly have a problem on their hands, as they will want to keep Davis happy, but also have to look at the bigger picture and his future with the Mavericks.

On top of the risk of him getting re-injured, Davis' return will naturally lead to more wins for the Mavericks, consequently tanking their lottery odds. Dallas hasn't thrown in the towel yet on the season, as the players are still motivated to try to make a run in the postseason, but that seems beyond unrealistic at this point considering the injuries the team is dealing with. Without Kyrie Irving, the team has no real chance of winning a playoff series, and while Davis' insertion into the lineup would temporarily excite fans, the Mavericks would compromise their future and potentially Davis' while doing so.

The cons seem to heavily outweigh the pros when it comes to Davis' potential return from injury, and nothing is set in stone just yet. While all signs are pointing to Davis making a return at some point this season, there is still some concern from Dallas' end that he could get re-injured while doing so according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

This sticky situation with Davis and his injury management is only starting, and either decision the Mavericks make could end up having serious consequences that stretch far beyond this season.