Opposing Scout On Mavericks: They’re Just Hopeless Right Now

The image of Kyrie Irving, a tear rolling down his cheek as he sunk two free throws on a torn ACL, will not be easily forgotten by Mavericks fans, wrote NBA insider Tim Bontemps of ESPN.

The poignant moment, reminiscent of his idol Kobe Bryant‘s performance 12 years earlier after tearing his Achilles tendon, struck a chord with the Mavs faithful. However, Irving’s injury is just one of the latest setbacks for a franchise grappling with uncertainty.

Hours before Monday’s game, in which Irving sustained the injury, Mavs fans were hit with another blow: an announcement that their season ticket prices for next season would be increasing.

The timing, following a month of turmoil in Dallas, could hardly have been worse. Since the trade that brought in Anthony Davis, the Mavericks have posted a lackluster 6-8 record. Furthermore, the injury to Irving and the absence of Davis — who has played just one half — has left Dallas far from certain of even qualifying for the play-in tournament.

“Dallas is just hopeless right now,” one NBA scout told ESPN. “There’s just no scoring ability without Kyrie. There’s just not enough talent with all these injuries.”

The fallout from the trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers has sparked wide criticism, though some supporters of general manager Nico Harrison have urged patience.

There are those who argue that a full judgment on Harrison’s handling of the Davis acquisition should not be made until after the summer, when the Mavs will have more opportunities to reshape their roster.

After all, the team did receive some draft compensation from the Lakers and has a variety of players under different contracts that could be leveraged in potential trade talks. Or something like that.

Yet the Mavericks’ summer plans have been thrown into doubt by Irving’s injury. With his availability for next season now uncertain, they may have to reconsider their strategy, potentially focusing on their own draft pick.

The Mavs’ inability to control their first-round picks from 2027 to 2030 only adds to the pressure to capitalize on this upcoming draft, which is considered to be particularly strong.

“As a team, you have to identify what you can control and focus on improving in that area,” a league executive told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “They don’t control their first-round pick from 2027 to 2030, and this is a good draft.”

Two years ago, the Mavericks endured a similar rough stretch, purposefully falling to keep their top-10-protected draft pick. They selected Dereck Lively II, then turned things around dramatically, eventually reaching the NBA Finals. The hope is that a similar rebound could be in store, though achieving this with Irving recovering from a torn ACL will be far from easy.

What is clear, however, is that Dallas is committed to its current direction. In the wake of Irving’s season-ending injury, Harrison’s statement underscored that the Mavs would not be abandoning their new roster.

“They’re doubling down,” one league executive said.

Looking ahead, there is speculation that Irving will opt out of his contract this summer and sign a new deal, potentially at a lower starting salary than his $44 million player option, to give the Mavs some financial flexibility under the first apron.

Either way, with Irving expected to miss significant time in the 2025-26 season, Harrison will be tasked with adding reinforcements. Good luck, buddy.