4 super crucial Dallas Mavericks stars have been sidelined, and it’s like a domino effect — one injury after another, causing everything to tumble. With their key players out, the team is left scrambling to stay competitive. Luka Doncic‘s injury has sidelined him for a while, putting all the scoring pressure on Kyrie Irving. Oh, wait, Irving is injured too. But they still have Klay Thompson, right?

No.

While Thompson may not be what he once was, his presence still makes a difference. But he’s out as well. This comes as a surprise because he wasn’t on the injury report on Sunday. The Splash Bro, dare I say ‘former’, was pulled from the Mavericks’ game against the Sacramento Kings on Monday, and the news dropped just an hour before tip-off. Feeling under the weather, he couldn’t suit up.

The four-time NBA Champion has been putting up 14.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He’s shooting 41.6% from the field and hitting 38.0% of his threes over 28 matchups.

You might think that Dereck Lively II might be back by now, but he isn’t. Lively also won’t suit up against the Kings keeping him out for the third consecutive game. Originally listed as questionable, the young gun’s status changed to out due to a lingering hip injury.

Dante Exum continues to recover from wrist surgery and expects to remain sidelined until January. The NBA suspended Naji Marshall for four games due to his involvement in a heated altercation during Friday’s 98-89 win over the Suns. Jusuf Nurkic sparked the drama by committing an offensive foul, which escalated into an argument that quickly spiraled out of control. Nurk took things up a notch by swinging his arm and hitting the Dallas hoopster in the head.

The Mavs find themselves in a tough spot. Depth and resilience will be key as they navigate this challenging stretch.

Will the Mavericks look for help outside, as Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving can’t hold down the fort together if Luka is out for long?

With Dorian Finney-Smith’s trade to the Lakers, the Mavericks are likely to pivot to other options. While an All-Star from the Indiana Pacers could be on their radar, FanSided suggests they might turn to Obi Toppin instead.

Toppin’s athleticism, defense, and ability to shoot from deep could fit well alongside Luka and Kyrie. In exchange, the Mavs might offer Maxi Kleber and their 2025 first-round pick. Kleber’s inclusion would help balance salaries, while the pick could be enough to convince the Indiana side to part with Toppin, especially since they’re no longer the Eastern Conference Finals team they were last year. This move could also help the Pacers escape a hefty four-year, $58 million commitment.

Luka Doncic has a knack for maximizing the skills of athletic wings and bigs, especially in fast breaks and pick-and-roll situations. Obi Toppin would thrive in those plays, getting easy points from lobs and pushing the ball in transition. He also has the ability to stretch the floor or score inside by cutting to the rim.

Defensively, Obi Toppin’s ability to guard wings, including the likes of Kevin Durant, could be a big asset. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle recently praised Toppin’s growth, saying, “In the last two-and-a-half, three weeks, Obi has taken his game to another level. More physical. Defense and rebounding really, really tremendous.” Sounds like a perfect fit for the Mavs, don’t you think?