NBA Swing: Is There Hope in Dallas Despite the Disaster?

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In the month since the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic, the organization has had more downs than ups. Since the trade, the Mavericks have gone 6-7, losing four of their last five games. As of March 5th, the Mavs have a 32-30 record, 10th in the Western Conference. For a team that reached the NBA Finals last season, the 2025 Dallas Mavericks post-Luka Doncic are not the same team.

In his first game with the team following the trade, Anthony Davis would give Dallas his best and worst. In 31 minutes, Davis would put up 26 points, grab 16 rebounds, dish 7 assists and block 3 shots. He would leave with an injury and has not played in nearly a month. Things would get for the Mavericks on Monday night when guard Kyrie Irving would tear his ACL against the Sacramento Kings. Irving, who could become a free agent this offseason, may be more likely to opt-in to his $43 million player option for the 2025-26 season. During an appearance on the Pat McAfee show on Tuesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania would say it’s possible that Davis may be shut down for the rest of the season.

With their two main stars out likely for the rest of the NBA season, the Mavericks do not have a lot of help. Klay Thompson has not looked the Thompson of old while P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively have all missed time due to injuries. With the under 20 games left for the Mavs this season, the immediate future does not look good for the organization.

On the bright side, Dallas is likely to finish in the 10th place and secure the last play-in spot in the West. With the 11th-seed Phoenix Suns and 12th-place Portland Trailblazers three and four games behind, respectively, the odds of either team surpassing the Mavs are low.

In the offseason, luck may be on their side. Recent rumors have suggested Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant could request a trade this offseason and that the Suns could work with him to move him to a contender. One of those potential teams being rumored in the Dallas Mavericks. Even though he may not return to the court until 2026, KD joining the Mavs would see a reunion with Kyrie Irving.

Durant and Irving would play 74 games together as a part of the Brooklyn Nets from 2020-2023. Pairing Durant with Irving would give the team one of the best scorers in the game and a primary scoring option to fill the gap left by Luka Doncic. For a team that wants to win now, adding Durant would help them stay in contention in a loaded Western Conference.

Upon rumors of a potential KD trade to the Mavericks, trade scenarios have included trading Anthony Davis for Durant as well as a package for Durant including Dereck Lively II and the Los Angeles Lakers 2029 first round pick acquired in the Luka Doncic trade.

For the Phoenix Suns, trading Kevin Durant is inevitable. Reports surfaced of Durant’s frustration with the Suns throughout the course of the season, especially following numerous reports of the Suns shopping Durant around the trade deadline. Tensions would rise even more when during the Suns’ 119-117 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, Durant would get in an exchange with head coach Mike Budenholzer, jerking his arm away from the coach.

Following the 2024-25 NBA season, Durant has one year and $54.7 million left on his contract. With Irving likely opting into his player option next season and Davis signed through the 2027-28 season, Dallas could potentially have all three for the 2025-26 season a shot at the NBA Championship.