The Dallas Mavericks are at risk of forfeiting games if they fall below the minimum of eight active players required for teams to play, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

It’s an incredibly complicated situation involving both the team’s shorthanded roster due to injuries and the league’s salary cap rules. Marks breaks it all down, but in essence, the date to look at is Monday, March 24 at the Brooklyn Nets where the Mavs could find themselves in position to be forced to forfeit a game.

The first issue at hand is the team losing players due to injury.

Kyrie Irving (torn ACL), Olivier Maxence-Prosper (right wrist injury) and Dante Exum (fractured left hand) are out for the year.

Dallas provided a March 7 update on Anthony Davis (left adductor strain), Dereck Lively II (right ankle stress fracture) and Daniel Gafford (right knee sprain), stating that all three are improving. However, there is no concrete timetable on any of their returns.

Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain) and Kai Jones (quad) haven’t played since March 3. P.J. Washington (right ankle sprain) has been out since March 1.

However, Jones and Washington were both questionable for the team’s Friday injury report prior to a 133-96 loss at the Houston Rockers, leaving hope that they could return soon.

However, Jones and Washington were both questionable for the team’s Friday injury report prior to a 133-96 loss at the Houston Rockers, leaving hope that they could return soon.

But for now, it leaves Brandon Williams, Dwight Powell, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Caleb Martin, Max Christie, Spencer Dinwiddie and Kessler Edwards as the lone healthy players (eight total).

But for now, it leaves Brandon Williams, Dwight Powell, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Caleb Martin, Max Christie, Spencer Dinwiddie and Kessler Edwards as the lone healthy players (eight total).

Williams and Edwards are two-way players. Per the G League website, two-way players can only be active for up to 50 games with their NBA team.

Williams and Edwards are two-way players. Per the G League website, two-way players can only be active for up to 50 games with their NBA team.

Edwards has played 37 and sat for 10 (coaches’ decision) for 47 total, while Williams has played 25, sitting 19 (coaches’ decision) for 44 total. So Edwards can be active for three more games, while Williams can only be active for six more.

In theory, Edwards could be active for the team’s next three games: Sunday versus the Philadelphia 76ers, Wednesday at the Indiana Pacers and Friday versus the Detroit Pistons. However, that would make him unable for the rest of the season, beginning Sunday, March 24 at the Nets, hence Marks’ point.

That’s where the second issue comes into play: The Mavs don’t have any flexibility to sign more players. They are just under the first apron hard cap by $51,000. In essence, that means they can’t bring anyone else in from the outside.

Per Marks, last offseason’s Thompson sign-and-trade and the Marshall signing “triggered the first apron hard cap.”

Henceforth, the Dallas Mavericks aren’t allowed to exceed the first apron under any circumstances.

“I see people talking about, oh, it’s a luxury tax issue. The owners don’t want to spend. No, there is no there is no exception to to be made,” said Marks.

Dallas can not just call up more players from the G-League team, the Texas Legends, like it’s the minor leagues of baseball. They have three two-way players under contract in Edwards, Williams and Kai Jones, and those are the ones under contract with the Mavs who, at this moment, can still play for Dallas. Anyone else on the Legends roster cannot make an appearance for the NBA team this year.

So this all leads to a potential doomsday scenario for the Mavericks.

Of course, it can be avoided, as Washington and Jones (who can play the rest of Dallas’ season) can return before the Nets game.