I Dallas Mavericks lost their seventh game of the last eight last night, staying out of the Play-in zone. For the Texans, with only three games left to play, it would take a real miracle to make the postseason. They would have to win against Sacramento, Chicago and San Antonio, without making a single misstep, and hope the Oklahoma City Thunder lose at least two of their three remaining games (against Golden State, Utah and Memphis).
The road then is quite uphill and the Mavs could even throw in the towel early if the Thunder win against Golden State (in fact, the game is played the day before Dallas-Sacramento). In that case, OKC would have to lose the last two and the Mavericks would have to win them all. According to Shams Charania, for this reason. Dallas would be considering resting both Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in the last three games. It sounds crazy, but it might make sense for the Mavs not to tear themselves apart to finish 10th.
As part of the 2014 trade with the New York Knicks to take Porzingis, Dallas did in fact give up the first-round pick at the 2023 Draft but only if it will be outside the Top 10. As of today, if the Mavs failed their Play-in goal, they would keep their pick and the Knicks would only be left with a 2025 second-round pick. If, on the other hand, they were to get past OKC with a miracle, this year’s pick would end up in New York.
Shams: “The Mavericks … I’m told the organization is seriously considering the possibility of shutting down [Luka Doncic & Kyrie Irving]. They have a top-10 protected pick. So being out of the play-in race – it behooves them not to try, to keep their pick”
pic.twitter.com/fetXXtZCAs– New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 3, 2023
Milan, Italy. A graduate in Labor Management and Communication for Organizations from Catholic University, I founded BasketUniverso in 2011. Yes, I root for Orlando Magic and do my best not to hide it.
