I want to be out there on the floor as much as I can. But at the same time, you have to listen to your body,” Gafford said.

A mock trade has the Dallas Mavericks sending Anthony Davis to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for multiple players.

The Dallas Mavericks is a team in flux, and they’re entering a critical moment in planning their future. Dec. 15 is the unofficial kick-off to trade season on the NBA calendar, where nearly 90-percent of the league’s players become trade eligible after signing contracts in the offseason.

One of the NBA’s most dominant storylines is the influx of injuries, specifically calf strains to star players, such as Kyrie Irving and Jayson Tatum.

Thompson, who has recently been linked to a potential trade away from Dallas, was out of action in the Mavs’ last game due to an ankle injury. On Thursday, the team made an announcement about his status ahead of Friday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets.

Along with identifying the trade season focus for all 30 teams, we're breaking down the important information -- the apron status, trade exceptions to watch, most valuable first-round picks and big expiring contracts -- that could help define which direction each franchise takes in the coming months.

Flagg is now 25 games into his NBA career, where he's averaging 17.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 3.4 APG. And with Friday's win, he joined LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Victor Wembanyama as the only players in NBA history with 400+ points, 150+ rebounds, 30+ steals, and 20+ threes made in the first 25 games of a career, per OptaStats.

Dallas Mavericks' young center Dereck Lively II is undergoing season-ending surgery on his right foot due to chronic pain. This marks his third procedure in a year, impacting his availability significantly.