As the Mavericks gear up for their season opener on Wednesday against the Rockets, they are still waiting to find out the status of Santi Aldama, who is expected to be a key reserve for the team this season.

Aldama remains without a timetable for return following the arthroscopic procedure he underwent on his right knee in March, and head coach Dusty May says he “doesn’t know yet” if the Spanish big man will be able to suit up for the season opener, according to Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).

Aldama’s ability to space the floor and create his own shot allows him to bring a different skill set than any of the other big men currently on the roster and should make him an easy fit alongside any of them, which could be key to unlocking different looks for May.

While the Mavs’ offseason moves seemed like they would create a logjam in the frontcourt, the lingering injuries to Aldama and Dereck Lively II have allowed the team to explore the capabilities of their deep bench, resulting in the lingering question of who secures the final big man roster spot between longtime veteran Dwight Powell and young shot-blocker Moussa Cisse.

We have more from the Mavs:

• Another big man whose skill level will be crucial for the Mavs in constructing a coherent offense around the star duo of Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg is P.J. Washington. In Friday’s loss to the Hawks, which saw Dallas roll out a facsimile of its healthy roster, Washington got eight three-point attempts, many of them of the catch-and-shoot variety, and hit two of them. He seems poised to have a healthy shot diet of such looks this season, and his ability to knock them down could be a major x-factor for the team, Christian Clark writes for The Athletic. More than anything, he needs to be ready to shoot even if he’s missed a couple. “A reluctant open shooter analytically and statistically is really bad for your offensive flow,” May said.
• Sergio De Larrea, the 6’6″ point guard taken 25th overall in the 2026 Draft, had an intriguing preseason, playing four games and averaging 9.5 points, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.0 block in 25.5 minutes per game while hitting 8-of-12 from three. With Irving in and out of the lineup, De Larrea’s 20 total assists led the team for the preseason. The Mavs are relatively thin in the backcourt, and Clark says he wouldn’t be surprised if the rookie is in May’s opening night rotation on Wednesday.
• The Mavs’ other rookie, Morez Johnson Jr., only got to play in two preseason games as he dealt with a lower-body injury, but according to Clark, May seems to highly value his motor and ability to read both ends of the floor. His mobility allowed May to experiment with a switch-heavy defense, which should allow Johnson interesting moments alongside Flagg, who is similarly versatile on defense. Despite only playing 26.3 total minutes in preseason, Johnson is fully expected to be a part of the team’s rotation on Wednesday.