The Dallas Mavericks surely expected to be in the playoffs this NBA season.
How could they not be? This is Luka Doncic’s team. Generally, the expectation is that a player of that caliber will lead you to the postseason.
If you’d told Dallas that they’d trade for Kyrie Irving and still miss the playoffs, they would not have believed you. Even the world’s most preeminent psychic would be discredited for seeing that future.
Yet, it’s reality. Now, the Mavericks need to focus on retaining Irving in free agency this summer.
Provided that they can, their next step should be to flesh out the roster around their star backcourt.
Could they start by acquiring De’Andre Hunter of the Atlanta Hawks?
