Santi Aldama Cleared for Friday After Knee Scare

The NBA injury report is basically a random number generator at this point, but for once, it actually spit out some good news. Santi Aldama and his knee are officially cleared and available to play this Friday.

He had been dealing with right knee soreness, which is always the exact kind of vague medical designation that makes fantasy managers sweat. In the modern NBA, "soreness" can mean a guy just needs an ice pack, or it can mean he is about to embark on a six-week spiritual retreat.

"Underdog NBA reported: 'Santi Aldama (knee) available to play Friday.'"

Fortunately, the Dallas Mavericks power forward avoided the latter. Getting him back in the lineup is a massive relief for a rotation that desperately needs his floor-spacing ability.

Before the knee started barking, Aldama was putting up some very real numbers. He recently dropped a casual 19 points, seven boards, and three assists on the Knicks, proving he is way more than just a depth piece.

And let us not forget that absolute heater against the Jazz earlier this season where he exploded for 37 points and drilled seven threes. When a big man is shooting like that, you wrap his joints in bubble wrap and pray to the basketball gods.

His return completely shifts the rotation math and the betting lines for Friday night. Anyone looking at player props has to figure out if Dallas will ease him back into the flow or just immediately let him resume launching from deep.

We will see how the knee holds up once the real game action starts. But for now, Aldama is active, the Mavericks get a crucial weapon back, and we can all stop refreshing the injury report for at least five minutes.