Santi Aldama's Knee Strikes Again: Mavericks Forward Ruled Out Friday

Death, taxes, and Santi Aldama popping up on an NBA injury report.

The Dallas Mavericks stretch forward has officially been ruled out for Friday's game thanks to a lingering knee issue.

"Santi Aldama (knee) ruled out Friday. - @UnderdogNBA"

If you feel like you have read this exact update before, your brain is working perfectly. Aldama had right knee surgery back in March, and his medical rap sheet is starting to look like a CVS receipt. He has already racked up over 160 missed days in his young career.

It is a brutal cycle for Dallas, because the 23-year-old is a legitimate problem for opposing defenses when he actually stays on the floor.

You are talking about a guy who can easily give you 14 points and eight boards while knocking down nearly 40 percent of his looks from deep. That is the exact kind of production that swings tight games and cashes over tickets.

But potential does not play minutes. For fantasy managers and prop bettors, trusting his availability right now is like trusting a gas station sushi roll. You are just asking for a bad time.

Dallas will have to shuffle their frontcourt rotation to cover his absence on Friday.

His next chance to finally suit up comes Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs, but until his lower body proves it can handle the grind of a regular rotation, nobody should be holding their breath.