A year ago at this time, the Dallas Mavericks were preparing for a playoff run that began with a first-round win over the Clippers and did not stop until the team had won the Western Conference and, ultimately, fell to the Celtics in the NBA Finals.
Mavs fans do not need reminding, but much has changed. The trade of Luka Doncic to the Lakers has been a disaster, and with Friday's loss in the final play-in game to the Grizzlies, Dallas's season is now over.
The Mavericks did not get much from Davis this year, as he was injured in his first appearance with the team, and played only nine games. That, combined with the season-ending knee injury for Kyrie Irving, suffered on March 3, pretty much doomed the Mavericks for the year.
"An incredible season, but the change and injuries, some would say we shouldn't even be there," Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said after Friday's loss. "So give those guys in that locker room a lot of credit."
The injuries have not been enough to earn a reprieve for GM Nico Harrison, at least not from fans. If he is going to save his job, he will need to start now, as a very interesting offseason is set to begin.
Mavericks Need to Pay Kyrie Irving
It is expected that more change will be coming for the Mavericks, but no matter how that shakes out, the top priority for Dallas will need to be getting Irving healthy. It is expected that he will be out for all of 2025, and the Mavs are hopeful he can return in January. But that's a longshot.
In the meantime, the Mavericks have a decision to make on Irving, and though that decision has nothing to do with the Doncic trade on the surface, the link is indelible. Having traded Doncic, the Mavericks gave Irving a massive level of leverage as he navigates his next contract.
Irving, even injured, can opt out of the $44 million he is owed for next season, and seek a new deal from Dallas. That deal is worth a maximum of five years and $314 million.
"They're almost forced to do it, if Kyrie demands it," one NBA executive said. "You trade Luka and you make it so that you really, really can't lose Kyrie, too. So even with the knee and everything, if he asks for the max, what are you going to do? You can add options and non-guarantees, and maybe you do not go the full five years, but it's going to be a max deal on some level. I don't envy them."
That is an enormous risk for the Mavericks, of course. Not only is Irving 33, but he could not stay healthy, even when he was younger. Irving has played an average of just 45 games in the last six years, and we can already be sure he will miss at least half his games next season.
But Dallas will need to keep Irving happy. No matter the cost.
