Could Luka Doncic Leave if Mavericks Have a Disappointing Season?
Photo by Kevin Jairaj
So far, in the beginning stages of the NBA off-season, the Dallas Mavericks have made some moves to improve their team. Those moves include re-signing Kyrie Irving, trading for Grant Williams, and drafting Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper in the first round of the NBA draft. An underrated addition for the Mavericks was the signing of Seth Curry, providing them with an elite shooter. These acquisitions should help them compete in the Western Conference, but will they be enough to bolster the Mavericks to the playoffs and aid in their championship aspirations? If they aren't, then that might mean the end of Dončić in Dallas.
Dončić currently has four more years left in his contract with the last year being a player option. Throughout his time in Dallas, he has developed into one of the league’s top players, racking up All-Star and All-NBA selections. While he has blossomed, the team around him has not really done the same, as it seems the Mavericks have decided to rely on him alone to carry them. In the five seasons Dončić has played, he has led the Mavericks to the playoffs three times while only reaching the conference finals once before fizzling out. One common factor in those seasons was the amount of usage Dončić had, and how much the Mavericks relied on him without making any moves to help improve the team. This has obviously changed with the addition of Irving last year as now Dončić does not have to be the number one option every night. While they did add Irving last year, they failed to make the playoffs. It is worth mentioning that Irving and Dončić only played 16 games together after the trade, which played a factor.
Photo by Tom Fox
Ultimately, this season could be a make-or-break season for the Mavericks and Dončić, or, at the very least, the biggest season of his career. With the additions the Mavericks have made, the hope is for them to keep building around Dončić and have him for the rest of his career. A disappointing season that sees the Mavericks not making the playoffs would be a huge step back and could cause Dončić to become frustrated. The team’s overall play and chemistry will be the key factor this upcoming season.
