Santi Aldama Finally Nears Mavericks Debut After Eight-Month Knee Saga

After spending the last eight months treating his right knee like a fragile museum exhibit, Santi Aldama might actually play a basketball game. NBA insider Marc Stein reports the Dallas Mavericks have officially upgraded the 7-foot forward to questionable for Wednesday's road trip to face the San Antonio Spurs.

This is a massive update for a guy who has not logged a single minute of real action since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery back in mid-March. Dallas acquired him from the Memphis Grizzlies in a July trade, but so far, his Mavericks tenure has consisted entirely of sitting in street clothes and running practice scrimmages with the G League's Texas Legends.

"Marc Stein reported that Aldama is nearing his Dallas debut following right knee surgery last spring."

When he actually has two working legs, Aldama is a legitimate problem for opposing defenses. He averaged career highs of 14.0 points and 6.7 rebounds in Memphis last season while knocking down 35 percent of his looks from deep. That is exactly the kind of floor-spacing size Dallas desperately needs to stretch the floor.

But potential does not cash tickets or win fantasy matchups. For sports bettors and fantasy managers, a questionable tag after an eight-month layoff is a giant flashing caution sign. Even if he suits up against San Antonio, you have to assume his minutes will be heavily restricted by head coach Dusty May.

Betting on his player props right now is basically just guessing how winded he will look after four trips up the floor. The real victory for Dallas on Wednesday will not be his stat line, but simply seeing him walk off the court without a limp. If he survives the Spurs, the Mavericks might finally have the stretch big they traded for.