We've seen multiple teams have issues with COVID-19 in the past week and now the Dallas Mavericks will be joining that group. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, Mavs big man Maxi Kleber is going to be out 10-14 days due to the NBA's COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber is entering isolation and will miss 10-to-14 days due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 10, 2021
It remains to be seen if Kleber tested positive for COVID-19 or if he was in contact with someone that tested positive. At the same time, it is unknown if other players on the Mavs are going to miss time alongside Kleber.
To begin the season, Maxi Kleber has been relied upon more in the frontcourt with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined with an injury. In the first nine games of the season, the German forward is averaging 7.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and is shooting an efficient 47.1 percent from three-point range.
Seeing that Kleber played on Saturday against the Orlando Magic, there could be more players who are forced to isolate themselves away from the team. Though, if Kleber's situation didn't occur until Sunday morning, then Dallas could have avoided a possible outbreak.
Luckily for the Mavs , Rick Carlisle said earlier this week that Porzingis was nearing a return to the lineup. Porzingis is recovering from a torn meniscus that he suffered in the first round of the playoffs in the 2019-2020 season against the Los Angeles Clippers.
With Porzingis not on the floor, the Mavs have leaned on Luka Doncic to do nearly everything for them on the offensive end. And now with Kleber set to miss time due to COVID-19, Dallas will be even thinner in the frontcourt. Expect Willie Cauley-Stein and Dwight Powell to see more minutes in the next couple of games.
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