The Dallas Mavericks' path over the past few seasons has been a roller coaster that few could have predicted, leaving the franchise with questions that loom large over their future. A pair of pivotal decisions—the departure of Jalen Brunson in free agency followed by a trade of their star Luka Doncic—have reshaped the team in ways that will be dissected and discussed for years to come.
Let's wind the clock back a bit. From 2020 onward, the combination of Doncic and Brunson was nothing short of electric.
This young, dynamic duo consistently dominated the postseason leaderboard, outscoring any other backcourt pairing in that span. The two were fiery, full of potential, and seemingly destined to lead the Mavericks into a new era of success.
Alas, things took an unexpected turn.
The first major stumble came in 2022 when the Mavericks decided against resigning Jalen Brunson. With a price tag of just $55 million, they let him walk, a decision that raised more than a few eyebrows.
Brunson quickly found a new home with the New York Knicks, signing for $106 million, and what a homecoming it was. Averaging an impressive 28.7 points last season and landing fifth in MVP voting, Brunson put the league on notice, guiding the Knicks to a 40-20 season record this year.
His meteoric rise has been nothing short of spectacular and stands as a testament to the Mavericks' loss.
Then, if letting Brunson slip away was a miscalculation, trading Luka Doncic was a seismic shift. Doncic, just fresh from leading Dallas to the NBA Finals, was shipped to the Lakers at this year’s trade deadline.
He had been a lynchpin of playoff success, posting averages of 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists during the Mavericks' recent playoff exploits. The return on this trade?
Anthony Davis, whose appearances on the court have been minimal due to injury concerns since the trade.
Now, we've got Jalen Brunson lighting up the iconic Madison Square Garden with one masterpiece after another, and Luka Doncic dazzling for the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, the Mavericks are looking inward, contemplating how a promising era evaporated almost overnight, leaving a trail of "what ifs."
Dallas had the rare fortune of drafting not just one but two potential superstar guards in a short span. Yet, the dream of constructing a championship-winning backcourt crumbled amid a series of roster decisions that will surely serve as cautionary tales. As Brunson and Doncic continue to make waves elsewhere, the Mavericks are left grappling with the ghosts of what could have been.
