The Dallas Mavericks' 2025 season is officially over after being eliminated from the play-in tournament by the Memphis Grizzlies. Just last year, this was the same Mavericks team that won the Western Conference and made it to the NBA Finals. Fast forward a year, and the franchise has been plagued by injuries, questionable game management, and widespread distrust stemming from the shocking trade of their franchise player—Luka Dončić.
What makes it even more bizarre is how the trade unfolded. Dončić, who led the team to the Finals just months earlier, was reportedly traded in the “middle of the night,” without prior notice or communication from the front office. Imagine being traded after carrying your team to the brink of an NBA championship. According to Dončić, he found out about the trade in such an abrupt manner that he threw and broke his phone in frustration.
Since that trade, the Mavericks have been hit hard by injuries, especially due to what many describe as poor player load management. The most painful of these setbacks was Kyrie Irving’s ACL injury. With Dončić gone, Irving was forced to carry the team, logging excessive minutes that ultimately led to his injury.
Anthony Davis—the NBA legend acquired in the Luka deal—got injured in his very first game as a Maverick. While Davis is undoubtedly a great player, trading a 26-year-old franchise cornerstone for a 32-year-old, injury-prone veteran baffled many fans and analysts alike. But not Dallas GM Nico Harrison, who responded to criticism with the now-infamous phrase: “Defense wins championships.”
Truthfully, if Harrison had acquired Davis without giving up Luka, fans might have embraced the move despite Davis' injury history. But trading Luka—arguably the best player in franchise history since Dirk Nowitzki—is widely considered an unforgivable decision.
What makes the situation even worse:
The Mavericks were in the NBA Finals just last year.
This year, they didn’t even make it past the play-in.
Luka had no intention of leaving. He had remained loyal for 6.5 years since being drafted.
Meanwhile, the decision has seemingly benefited others. Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, who was reportedly on the hot seat before acquiring Luka, has now been promoted. Dončić currently leads the Lakers in points, assists, and rebounds—making the trade arguably the worst in NBA history (for Dallas, at least).
One person who truly deserves sympathy in all this is Anthony Davis. Despite being thrust into an impossible situation—trying to replace a beloved superstar in a city still reeling from the trade—he gave it his all. In their elimination game against the Grizzlies, he dropped 40 points while playing through injury.
And you can’t help but wonder: if Luka had still been on the roster alongside AD, could they have pushed the Mavericks into the playoffs?
It's also ironic that the Mavs season ended 77 days after Luka trade and he wears the number 77, coincidence?
With everything that has happened, maybe Nico Harrison should consider writing a book titled “How to Successfully Ruin a Franchise.”
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