The Dallas Mavericks were already struggling to cling to a play-in spot in the Western Conference this season, but the franchise’s unceremonious trade of Luka Doncic and the aftermath of the move has made the team’s future much bleaker. Stephen A. Smith believes the most recent blow to the Mavericks will put an end to any kind of postseason hopes the team had.
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After the Doncic trade, the Mavs looked like a complete team on paper, led by Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. However, AD went down with a non-contact left adductor strain in his first contest with Dallas, which will keep the nine-time All-Star sidelined for at least a few weeks. Now, Stephen A. doesn’t believe the Mavs’ season is salvageable. Before underlining his hope that Davis will return from injury in time to help the team, Smith said,
“I think [the Mavericks] are done for this season.”
The longtime sports analyst has reasonable concern for the Mavs, who just added the 31-year-old Davis in exchange for a superstar guard yet to enter his prime. The Brow has been relatively healthy over the last two seasons, but this new injury adds to the fear that he won’t be able to play 60-plus games in a season again. Meanwhile, Doncic is already back on the court. He suited up in purple and gold for the first time on Monday night, making the trade look even more lopsided than when it originally went down.
Davis isn’t the only key injury the Mavs have suffered recently, either. The team’s once-loaded frontcourt has also now lost both of their centers, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, to the injury bug. PJ Washington has also been sidelined for four of the team’s last five games, creating a massive void in Dallas’ big man rotation.
With injuries continuing to pile up and the franchise player out the door, Stephen A. doubts the Mavericks will be able to cling to the eighth seed in the West.
The Dallas Mavericks are shrouded in uncertainty
Even if the current campaign weren’t a disaster, the Mavericks will have bigger questions to answer next season as their stars age another year. Both Irving and Davis are near the end of their primes but are expected to be part of a contending team. Right now, it doesn’t seem like the franchise is geared for a title run. That might not even be the team’s biggest issues, as many fans have completely turned their backs on the franchise and its decision-makers since the Doncic trade.
Fans have publicly protested the trade and have made their desire for the firing of GM Nico Harrison known in recent days. Now, dealing with a slew of injuries, things likely won’t be getting any easier for the Mavs in the coming months.
