The NBA fined the Dallas Mavericks $750,000 on Friday, arguing the team engaged in “conduct detrimental to the league” by sitting out key players on April 7 against the Chicago Bulls even though they had a chance. to reach the postseason.
The league’s investigation took less than a week and determined that Dallas violated the league’s policy on resting players and had an interest in losing the game to the Bulls “in order to increase the possibility of retaining their first-round pick in the 2023 Draft”.
Dallas shut out Kyrie Irving against the Bulls. Luka Doncic only played in the first quarter and possibly only got playing minutes because the team had scheduled a tribute to Doncic’s native Slovenia.
The Mavericks blew an 11-point lead in the first quarter, lost the game, and were eliminated from playoff contention.
“The Dallas Mavericks’ decision to restrict key players from participating in an elimination game last Friday against Chicago undermines the integrity of our game,” said Joe Dumars, NBA director of sports operations and vice president. “With their actions, the Mavericks failed the fans and the league.”
Losing the game and being left out of the mini-tournament could help the team finish in the top 10 in the Draft — and with it they have a chance to win the lottery and the chance to draft French phenom Victor Wembanyama.
Also, getting a top-10 pick is important because otherwise Dallas would lose the first-round pick. If Dallas has a pick of 11 and below, their pick will go to New York as part of the tradeoff to acquire Kristaps Porzingis in 2019.
The league found no evidence that the players in the game played to lose. Dallas coach Jason Kidd said before the game that the decision to leave the players out was made by “the organization” and after the game he said the decision was up to the bosses — owner Mark Cuban and general manager Nico Harrison.
Dallas ruled out Irving, Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber, Josh Green and Christian Wood and limited Doncic. The Mavs cited Irving recovering from a sprained right foot, Kleber from a strained right hamstring, Hardaway from an ankle injury and rest for Wood and Green.
It is the second time that the Mavs have been fined for losing on purpose.
In February 2018, the NBA fined Mark Cuban $600,000 for his comments on this issue on the podcast with Hall of Famer Julius Erving.
