The case will be made that probably the most disappointing workforce within the NBA this season was the Dallas Mavericks. After making it to the Western Convention Finals final postseason, Dallas ended up lacking out on the playoffs altogether this yr, because the workforce’s destiny was sealed on Friday evening with a 115-112 loss to the Chicago Bulls that formally eradicated them from play-in rivalry with a 38-43 file.
Numerous essential gamers didn’t play for the Mavs on Friday, whereas Luka Doncic played the first quarter and the opening possession of the second earlier than getting shut down. There was a technique to the insanity — the workforce’s choose within the 2023 NBA Draft is top-10 protected, and lacking the play-in means the overwhelming chances are they get the tenth choose in June — however the mere undeniable fact that the season even obtained to that time is stunning, particularly contemplating the high-profile the workforce made when it was 28-26 to accumulate Kyrie Irving.
And now, rumors are starting to pop up about Doncic’s long-term future in Dallas. Regardless of being within the first yr of a 5-year contract extension, Tim MacMahon of ESPN reports that there are actual worries among the many Mavericks that their MVP candidate might need out as quickly as subsequent summer season if issues don’t begin getting higher.
There’s a robust sense of urgency inside the group to expedite the method earlier than Doncic loses religion within the Mavs’ capability to construct a contender round him. He’s wrapping up the primary season of a five-year, $215 million supermax contract with a participant possibility for the ultimate season.
Crew sources have acknowledged to ESPN that worry exists that Doncic, who publicly and privately expressed excessive frustration this season, might think about requesting a commerce as quickly because the summer season of 2024 if Dallas doesn’t make vital progress by then.
Doncic is presently underneath contract by 2026-27, though the ultimate yr on his deal features a participant possibility. As MacMahon famous, Doncic beforehand summed up this yr as “a really disappointing season.”
