ESPN's Kyrie Doubt Meets a Real Game: Mavericks Open Camp…

By the Mavericks Nightly Desk · Thursday, October 8

ESPN's Danny Green said he doesn't see Kyrie Irving staying in Dallas the entire season, a question that now sits alongside the Oct. 9 preseason opener against Houston. Dallas carries $197.9 million in payroll below the $200.4 million tax line, while Morez Johnson Jr., Dereck Lively II and Santi Aldama all carry status tags tied to that same Oct. 9 date.

Mavericks Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

A Question From ESPN

ESPN's Danny Green said this week he doesn't see Kyrie Irving finishing the season in Dallas, a take that lands with no games played and no update on Irving's own health status since camp opened. Irving isn't on the three-man injury list right now; Morez Johnson Jr., Dereck Lively II and Santi Aldama are, each tagged with the same return window of Oct. 9 — tip-off for the preseason opener against Houston.

Houston Sets A High Bar

The Rockets Dallas sees on NBA TV went 52-30 last season with the league's scoring balance in their favor: a 117.5 offensive rating against a 112.1 defensive mark, good for a scoring margin of 5.4. Alperen Sengun averaged 20.4 points and 8.9 rebounds, Amen Thompson added 18.3 points and 5.3 assists, and Kevin Durant put up 26.0 points a night at 36.4 minutes. Houston is still at 0-0 this season too, and the same two teams meet again Oct. 11 before the regular-season opener Oct. 21 at Houston.

Camp Health, Cap Math

Dallas finished last season at -5.2 in scoring margin on a 26-56 record, and this camp is about fixing that math before Houston again on Oct. 21. The payroll sits at $197.9 million across 18 contracts, over the cap and under the $200.4 million tax line, with Kyrie Irving's $39.5 million the largest number on the books. Johnson's issue is a lower leg, Lively's is his right foot, and Aldama's is undisclosed — all three listed through Oct. 9's tip-off.

When do the Mavericks play the Rockets next?

Dallas opens preseason against Houston on Oct. 9 on NBA TV, then plays the Rockets again on Oct. 11 before the regular-season opener at Houston on Oct. 21.

Is Kyrie Irving injured?

Irving isn't on the current injury list; the question around him is ESPN's Danny Green saying he doesn't see Irving staying in Dallas the entire season, not a health issue.

By the Mavericks Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.