Mavericks in danger of forfeiting games due to injury and salary cap rules

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It's an incredibly complicated situation involving both the team's shorthanded roster due to injuries and the league's salary cap rules. Marks breaks it all down, but in essence, the date to look at is Monday, March 24 at the Brooklyn Nets where the Mavs could find themselves in position to be forced to forfeit a game.

The first issue at hand is the team losing players due to injury.

Kyrie Irving (torn ACL), Olivier Maxence-Prosper (right wrist injury) and Dante Exum (fractured left hand) are out for the year.

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Dallas provided a March 7 update on Anthony Davis (left adductor strain), Dereck Lively II (right ankle stress fracture) and Daniel Gafford (right knee sprain), stating that all three are improving. However, there is no concrete timetable on any of their returns.

Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain) and Kai Jones (quad) haven't played since March 3. P.J. Washington (right ankle sprain) has been out since March 1.

However, Jones and Washington were both questionable for the team's Friday injury report prior to a 133-96 loss at the Houston Rockers, leaving hope that they could return soon.

But for now, it leaves Brandon Williams, Dwight Powell, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Caleb Martin, Max Christie, Spencer Dinwiddie and Kessler Edwards as the lone healthy players (eight total).

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That's where the second issue comes into play: The Mavs don't have any flexibility to sign more players. They are just under the first apron hard cap by $51,000. In essence, that means they can't bring anyone else in from the outside.

Per Marks, last offseason's Thompson sign-and-trade and the Marshall signing "triggered the first apron hard cap."

Henceforth, the Dallas Mavericks aren't allowed to exceed the first apron under any circumstances.

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Of course, it can be avoided, as Washington and Jones (who can play the rest of Dallas' season) can return before the Nets game.

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