The Dallas Mavericks open up training camp next week but who will be participating in that camp is a major question mark at this point. The Mavericks have three players coming off of major injuries, Chandler Parsons, Wesley Matthews and JaVale McGee, so their status not only for camp but for the beginning of the season is in doubt. It is being reported that none of those three players will have full clearance to participate when training camp opens up, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Parsons and Matthews have said all along that their goal is to be back for the season opening game on October 28 and they think that's a realistic possibility. A lot of that will depend on how much progress they make between now and then and how much they are able to participate in training camp and the preseason.
Matthews signed a big four year $70 million deal this offseason with the Mavericks after suffering a torn Achilles during last season that forced him to miss 22 games. Matthews' injury occurred in the beginning of March and the timetable for a torn Achilles is typically 6-9 months. Matthews is known for how hard he works so it shouldn't surprise anyone if he gets back in seven months which is on the earlier side of the typical timetable.
Parsons had major surgery to repair the cartilage in his right knee this offseason. Parsons was only able to play in one game of the Mavericks playoff series against the Houston Rockets as the knee injury really hampered him. Parson hasn't had as much time to heal as Matthews but they both expect to work their way into full participation in practices as the season gets closer in preparation for playing on opening night.
JaVale McGee's role with the team isn't quite defined at this time but he is still recovering from a stress fracture in his left tibia which only allowed him to play in 28 games over the past two seasons. McGee has had complications with the leg ever since he broke it but he is confident he will get back to his old self at some point this season.
Parsons and Matthews are expected to be the two key cogs for the Mavericks this year after they let Monta Ellis leave so having them healthy for the beginning of the season would provide a huge lift. McGee was a low risk signing and the Mavericks would be ecstatic if they can get anything at all out of him this season.
