Davis Cleared; Gafford Expected Out 2–3 Weeks

The Dallas Mavericks opened training camp after acquiring Anthony Davis and No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, but early sessions have raised durability and depth concerns. Davis was cleared to fully participate after offseason surgery to repair a detached retina, will wear protective goggles long-term and use eye drops, and is listed at 268 pounds—about 15 pounds heavier than last season—which he says is deliberate offseason bulking and that he has already begun losing weight in camp. On opening day, center Daniel Gafford sprained his ankle and is expected to miss roughly 2–3 weeks, increasing minutes for Dereck Lively II and testing the frontcourt rotation. Kyrie Irving remains sidelined rehabbing a torn ACL but has been present with the team, and coach Jason Kidd and the front office face a critical decision about the starting five. The club is aiming to blend veteran leadership and young talent into a competitive 2025–26 lineup while managing Davis’s workload and Flagg’s development.