Two short months ago, the Dallas Mavericks and their fans were longing for the return of their franchise star Luka Doncic. They were ready for Doncic to come back and lead the team back to the Finals after a highly successful 2024 season.
Well, today is March 4th, and Luka magic is no more in Dallas, as he dons the purple and gold. His replacement, Anthony Davis, got hurt in his first game as a Mav and may not return this season. Then came last night, the final nail in the coffin, when All-Star guard Kyrie Irving tore his ACL and will now not only miss the remainder of this season but possibly most of next year as well.
The Mavericks went from contenders for years to come to an absolute disaster in a matter of months
One thing is for certain in Dallas: the season is over. With Irving out for the year, no more Doncic, and the likelihood Davis may not come back this season, the Mavs are not doing any damage beyond April. They may have a four game cushion at the tenth and final spot for the play-in, but don’t expect that to last for long.
To make matters worse, Dallas does not control their first round pick from 2027-2030. They do have their pick this year and are more inclined to tank to give themselves a chance at landing a highly impactful young player in a loaded draft, but that is the only positive about their future.
Davis turns 32 next week and has a lengthy injury history. Irving turns 33 near the end of the month and will be coming off a major knee surgery. Klay Thompson is 35 years old and has shown signs of decline.
Those three players are a key part of the team’s nucleus, and GM Nico Harrison was banking on those three to maximize the Mavs’ championship window. Now, he’s left with an older roster and little to no draft picks or cap space for the next few years.
All of the moves Harrison made to acquire Irving, Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, Thompson, and Naji Marshall were all with Doncic in mind. They didn’t have to worry about draft picks or cap space because they had a top three player in the world. Now, with Irving sidelined and an older roster, the Mavs are no longer bona fide threats to win a championship.
In the short term, Dallas should tank so they can boost their lottery odds. The only way this situation can be salvaged is if they get the chance to draft Cooper Flagg. Until then, keep the Mavs’ fanbase in your prayers.