Dallas Mavericks

Santi Aldama

F

Aldama's 2025-26 campaign was cut short due to a right knee injury, which resulted in an arthroscopic procedure in mid-March. The Mavericks are able to start practice prior to Sept. 29 because they have preseason games abroad, and it sounds like Aldama could have a good chance of featuring in those.

Kyrie Irving

G

Irving is close to a full ACL surgery recovery, so he should be a full participant by the time training camp comes around in the fall. The star guard hasn't yet gotten the chance to take the floor since the Mavericks drafted Cooper Flagg last year, so it'll be interesting to see how the two mesh once they're sharing the backcourt duties together.

Dereck Lively II

C

Lively is walking and lifting weights, though he's not quite ready to enter the next phase of his rehab. The 22-year-old big man is recovering from right foot surgery, which cut his season short in December of last yar, and it remains uncertain if he'll be a full participant in training camp this fall. The Mavericks did take Morez Johnson with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to improve its frontcourt, but Lively remains the most likely candidate to open next season as Dallas' starting center.