Do you remember last season, when the Dallas Mavericks made the NBA final, led by the top-creq superstar Luka Dončić? Yes, Mavericks fans may need to hang on to this for a while, because things are about to become ugly.
The organization led by Nico Harrison has lost against Memphis Grizzlies Friday evening game gameThis means that their season is now officially over, and not unofficially that it had been since February 2.
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The 2024-25 season will fall into history as a self-inflicted nightmare for Dallas, as a new priority on defense, and low percentages of body fats, convinced it to undoubtedly execute the worst trade of all time, moving Dončić for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a single selection of first round.
This last part is particularly obvious. Even if you decide to rotate a guy who can win the MVP price any year, at least one optimal value in return. Harrison himself argued that he had kept the dialogue with the nearby Lakers, to avoid leaks, but this is only something you do to increase the lever effect. If you essentially want to give a superstar anyway, why the secret? Hell, it would have been a good thing if these conversations had fled, because it would have meant very superior offers from outside!
Anthony Davis and Luka Dončić will be forever linked. (Jerome Miron-Imagn images)
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect / Reuters)
Sigh. Let's move on.
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The Mavericks also exchanged Quentin Grimes in Philadelphia who ended up doing the average … * Check the notes * … Oh, bloody hell, they did it twice, right?
Very well, this is probably enough for a review of the season, because we would prefer fans of Mavericks to keep their lunches.
To move forward, Dallas looks old, injured and charged with decreasing return players. Kyrie Irving, who could become a free agent, fell with a tear of the LCA and will probably not be back before January, if he is even back in a Dallas uniform.
Davis, who is unfortunately often injured, flat cannot play 70 games and be ready for the playoffs.
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Klay Thompson, the acquisition of the free agent last summer, still has a wet jumper that will probably remain with him for the next 50 years, but his defensive movement is absolutely broken because of the consecutive tears of ACL and Achille.
Well, at least Dallas A … Caleb Martin? Oh my boy.
Record 2024-25: 39-43
Presentation of the season
Well, it's just cruel, right? That said, in all honesty, for fans of Dallas Mavericks, the return of Dončić on April 9, when he gave their team business With 45 points, could really prove to be a highlight for the fans base, as he reported a type of closure and noisy roasting of the organization.
Greater need
Where to start? Mavericks need health, talent, depth and a front office that does not torpedo its chances of success. The organization wishes to really compete with a bunch of players approaching mid-Tentaine, who all have history of significant injuries, therefore the logic dictates that there will be an urgent need for young and health that will leave the bench to extend the competitive window. If only the Mavs had somehow more recovery choice to recover these players.
Played draft choice (pre-Lottery)
N ° 11
Development project
Although the Mavericks have a nucleus, at least for the moment, they are unable to approach this project by focusing on position needs. You cannot count on one of your best three players to stay healthy, which means that you have every reason to swing large and opt for the highest player available. In addition, you should consider the possibility that Irving leaves this summer as a free agent, so if this talent with the highest advantage has the ability to mark high volumes, it would not be a bad thing.
Key -free agents
Kyrie Irving (player option)
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Dante Exum (UFA)
Spencer Dinwiddie (UFA)
Distribution of the salary ceiling
Davis has signed a three -year contract extension that strikes this summer, which means that his salary jumps by about $ 11 million to $ 54 million. Assuming that IRVING picks up its option, it is back to just under 44 million dollars.
Fortunately, the rest of the list is under manageable offers, and the upcoming course (the ceiling should be $ 154.6 million) will only give MAVs more room for maneuver to dodge the first apron, just as they have succeeded this season.
That said, they will not have a space to play with the ceiling, and they will have to make changes to unlock the exception of intermediate level without tax.
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Overall, although they are not in a major financial problem, their ceiling leaf could be cleaner.
The goal of next season
The Mavericks go there. Whatever “it” ends up being. They will probably be buyers from the summer to the commercial deadline of 2026, because there is no perspective now. In any world, and in no case can the Mavericks decide to change course after the trade in Dončić, because they spent months arguing a better chance of winning without him.
They have completely painted in the harshest of the corners, and it will take an epic exposure of acrobatics to get out of it.
