If there is something that is penalized enormously in the NBA current is the mediocrity. The inability of the teams to be perpetually in the fight for the important positions condemns them to a situation from which it is hard to get out. While the main competitors of the western conference were reinforced with meaning, or they were growing as the course progressed, Dallas Mavericks He made a desperate move (Kyrie Irving) and progressively falling until he was officially out of the Play-In. A more than bitter outcome for a Luka Doncic who has been performing at the MVP level and who sees all his work wasted.
The Mavs’ season cannot be defined as anything other than a disappointment. The Texans came from being finalists in the West, falling in a very dignified way before some Warriors who were champions. Defense had been his forteand although Jalen Brunson was no longer there, there was some confidence in the team led by Jason Kidd. Six months after starting the course, the result cannot be more negative.
More | Why is Dallas resting Luka and Kyrie in the season finale?
Sin Playoffs in sight and without even being within the Play-In zone, the only consolation for the Mavs has been to secure a choice within the top 10 for the Draft. Now Dallas will have a 3% chance of taking the number 1 pick, a consolation prize that is more like bread for today and hunger for tomorrow.
With an MVP-caliber star in Doncic accompanied by a top 30 player in the league in Irving and a group of excellent secondaries, the Mavs have given up early. The 2022 West finalists will not be in contention for the ring for the first time since 2019 in a setback that could have a major impact on the future of the franchise.
So, what comes next for the Dallas Mavericks? What are the next steps to follow after being left out of Play-In? Next The Sporting News Bring all the keys.
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The Draft, a burning nail to hold on to
The decision to sit out Kyrie Irving, Tim Hardaway Jr, Christian Wood and limit Luka Doncic to 12 minutes in the decisive game against the Bulls was not something improvised. By losing against Chicago, they ensured they had an election within the top 10 of the Draft, a consolation prize after a disastrous year for the project.
The 2023 Draft is not just any. In its upper part, three projects stand out that do not appear every day. On the one hand, Victor Wembanyama, the great French star called to change the NBA. And in the background Brandon Miller y Scoot Hendersonwho have been overshadowed by the impact of Wemby, but who would have been picks #1 in every other year.
Beyond the noble zone, in the following elections there are other interesting names, which would give an extra to a limited team like the Mavs. Do you want to meet them? Juan Estevez introduces you to the best players in our latest mock Draft.
The Mavs were, in a way, with their hands tied due to this season shutdown. Due to the transfer of Kristaps Porzingis in 2019 Dallas still owes an election to the Knicks, in such a way that they would only keep it this year if they were among the 10 worst teams (which has happened). Now, that choice will become a top 10 protected election of 2024 or 2025. In the event that neither converts, they will deliver their second round of 2025.
The team led by Jason Kidd has between a 3% and 3.6% chance to get an election within the top 3. Hence, it is most likely that he will take a pick 10 (65%) u 11 (19%). Who were chosen in recent years at #10? Johnny Davis (Wizards), Ziaire Williams (Grizzlies), Jalen Smith (Suns), Cam Reddish (Hawks) y Mikal Bridges (Suns).
A panorama that does not invite excessive optimism when thinking about choosing a talent capable of making an impact from day one in Dallas.
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Complicated renewals and limited Free Agency
facing the offseason the situation of the Dallas Mavericks at the contractual level is the following:
- With contract: Luka Doncic, Tim Hardaway Jr, Davis Bertans, Maxi Kleber, Reggie Bullock, JaVale McGee, Josh Green y Jaden Hardy
- free agents: Kyrie Irving, Christian Wood, Dwight Powell, Justin Holiday, Markieff Morris, Frank Ntilikina, Theo Pinson, AJ Lawson y McKinley Wright
To this it should be added that their salary space is not very high since they have cap holds high as a result of the presence of figures such as Irving, Wood y Powell. These are the rights that each franchise has to renew a player for more money than if he went on the market. If the Mavs gave up everyone they would have a few 25 million space, but it is difficult to see that scenario. So Dallas is most likely over the salary cap and on the luxury tax.
In this way, the franchise would only have the mid-level exception (11.3M) and biannual (4.4M), in addition to the veteran minimum according to the experience of each player.
So the most important thing for the Mavericks will be trying to make sure that key players like Irving, Wood, Powell o Holiday continue in the team even if they do not continue with favorable contracts for the franchise coffers.
The organization is with its hands tied for the future and it only has two options: tear everything down and rebuild by throwing away a year of Doncic or go ahead waiting to resolve it based on transfers.
The risk of rebuilding with a star
The idea of rebuilding is something widely used in the NBA ecosystem. From the outside it can be seen as a logical step in search of better conditions to compete for important things. In practice it is an extremely hard, complicated and demanding process and, from which it is tremendously difficult to get out. There are franchises that began their reconstruction with the hope of finding solutions in young players and ended up condemned to the lower zone of their Conference.
This situation is even more at risk when there is an All-NBA caliber star on the roster such as Dallas with Luka Doncic. The desire to win of this figure can contrast with the interests of the franchise and quickly separate ways or open an irreconcilable gap between both parties.
The youngsters generate illusion because they are unknown names, in which to place the hopes of a team. Typically, though, these rookies never end up as All-Stars and are good rotation players at best.
This is the risk that the Mavs have decided to take by surrendering and not continue competing in this 2022-2023 season.
And the worst part is that there are examples of other teams that decided to take the same path in the past and, years later, are still in the same position: stuck in mediocrity. Cases like Blazers, Wizards, Bulls, Pacers o, hasta 2023, los Kings are examples of what a dangerous traveling companion the draft lottery can be today.
The Mavs face their offseason more important since they chose Luka Doncic. The decisions they make in the next three months may end up defining the potential of the franchise from now to the next five years.
The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
