By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
It seems like the beginning of a long and complicated offseason for the Dallas Mavericks. Apart from missing the cut for the Playoffs, and the Play-Ins, Luka Doncic sitting out the better part of the last two games, before the team was actually eliminated, makes things complicated from the start.
“I’m happy here,” stated the Slovenian star following the regular-season finale refuting rumors regarding considering requesting a trade. Before Doncic signed off, the Mavs lost to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday and finished the 2022-23 NBA Regular Season with a 38-44 record.
Doncic, 24, did not play against the Spurs and saw limited action in the penultimate game of the season against the Chicago Bulls Friday. Losing the first of two straight in American Airlines Center eliminated Dallas from postseason contention. Head coach Jason Kidd had opened up about ruling out key players instead of pursuing the slim opportunity of salvaging a Play-In berth.
“I didn’t like that decision,” added Doncic, “That’s it.”
The league is investigating the Mavericks opting to sit key players against the Bulls.
“Something’s got to change”
Wrapping up his fifth NBA campaign with 32.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.5 blocks per contest, the former champion of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and EuroBasket is expected to lead Slovenia in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, before focusing on the 2023-24 NBA season. Brushing off talks about wanting to leave Dallas but certainly can be a good sign for his whereabouts following the World Cup, but he is far from happy with the conclusion of the 2022-23 season.
“Something’s got to change, for sure,” he pointed out, “I mean, last year we went to Western Conference finals. We were having fun. I always talk about the chemistry we had. It was great. But something’s got to change for sure.”
Doncic is contracted through the 2025-26 season and holds a player option for 2026-27. In contrast, Kyrie Irving will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, a few months after being acquired via trade. At the end of the day, it did not work out down the stretch of the Regular Season.
“I think it’s a great fit,” Doncic described his connection to Irving, “Obviously, people are going to say no, look at the results we are having. Chemistry and relationships take time. I wish he could still be here.”
One way or another, a long offseason just started.
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