It is a miserable time for the Dallas Mavericks right now as the impact of the NBA’s most shocking trade ever continues to be felt.
The Dallas Mavericks initiated the trade with the LA Lakers for Luka Doncic, a move that has changed the future of the two franchises, for better or worse.
The Mavs were the team supposed to get the short-term benefit. So far it has not worked out that way, with Davis suffering an injury that has ruled him out of action for the foreseeable future.
It has inflamed an angry fanbase, who have voiced frustration inside and outside the home stadium.
Nobody in the Dallas has come out of this situation with any glory. Nico Harrison and Patrick Dumont have doubled down on the decision, making comments that have served to disrespect Luka Doncic.
And in the loss to the Kings, minority owner Mark Cuban was seen clashing with fans, despite reportedly attempting to stop the trade.
There is one winner in Dallas, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, who told The Hoop Collective that Kyrie Irving has seen his importance to the franchise increase.
Bontemps said: “Nobody benefits more from this trade than Kyrie Irving, on many fronts. I’m talking about the people left behind. There is one winner in Dallas right now, that’s Kyrie Irving.
“[He] now has maximum leverage to get a gigantic contract this summer and is quite clearly the guy totally running the ship with the Mavs.
“He’s been a big presence in the locker room since he got there, it’s his show now. It’s he and Anthony Davis going forward.
“It was Luka’s team and he was there as a secondary guy. His free agency this summer was going to be rather interesting to see how it was handled. Now it shouldn’t be very interesting, he should be getting the bag.”
Dallas’ decision to bring in Kyrie Irving was criticized when they traded for him in 2023, along with Markieff Morris, now sent to the Lakers.
Irving has answered his detractors, performing at a high level, and for most of this season, he has been the Mavericks’ leader, with Luka Doncic missing multiple games with injuries.
The former Cavaliers star has become more important in Dallas, and his partnership with Anthony Davis provides an exciting duo when the pair are both healthy.
Davis’ current injury works against him, however, with Irving battling through a back injury, and now left carrying the team with Lively and Gafford also out injured, and the team battling to avoid dropping out of the Play-In spots.
A high contract offer does look set to come Irving’s way – but there is a risk for the Mavs that he does choose to decline his player option, if he is not happy with the team’s path.
