After the Mavericks‘ season came to an end as a result of Friday night’s play-in loss in Memphis, Klay Thompson described his first year in Dallas as “tumultuous.” Head coach Jason Kidd took a rosier view, as Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com relays, referring to 2024/25 as an “incredible season” for his team, which missed out on the playoffs after making the NBA Finals last spring.
“When you look at the injuries that we’ve had (and) the change, for us to even be here playing in (Friday’s play-in) game, it’s incredible,” Kidd said. “It just shows the character of that group in that locker room, the fight, being prepared, moving on, learning from our losses and also our wins. So an incredible season with the change and injuries. Some would say we shouldn’t even be here, so give those guys in that locker room a lot of credit.”
While Kidd was eager to praise his players for the way they fought through the season, the fact that so much fight was required at all is a reflection of why Thompson viewed it as “tumultuous.” The second half was defined by a series of injuries to key players and the fallout of the controversial Luka Doncic trade.
When Thompson signed with the Mavericks as a free agent last summer, he was hoping to be the missing piece for a club that was three wins away from a championship in 2024. Instead, he’ll be watching his former team (Golden State) from home during the first round of the playoffs after averaging just 14.0 points per game in his first season as a Maverick, his lowest scoring mark since his rookie year.
“Don’t do this to me. Don’t do that to me. Don’t do that,” Thompson said with a laugh when asked if he’d still join the Mavs if he could do his 2024 free agency over. “That’s kind of a ridiculous question. I don’t own a time machine, and I don’t believe in going back, looking back. If I did that my whole career, I would not be where I’m at and I wouldn’t have been able to persevere through two really hard injuries.
“So I’m here in Dallas, and I enjoyed my time and I’m looking forward to the future.”
Here’s more on the Mavs as their offseason gets underway:
- Anthony Davis, who scored 40 points in Friday’s loss, said after the game that he appreciated the way that Mavericks fans treated him after his midseason arrival, even though he knows many of those fans disliked the trade the team made to acquire him. “Obviously, it’s a lot of emotions. I know it’s not directed towards me,” Davis said, per Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. “The city loved the guy (Doncic). Get rid of a guy. A new guy comes in, yet they want to embrace you and they’re thankful for you, it still stings. I’m just thankful and appreciative of the city of Dallas and the fans for welcoming me and Max (Christie) to the new situation.”
- Mavericks center Dereck Lively was on a minutes restriction for both of the team’s play-in games this week, tweets NBA insider Marc Stein. Lively, who was out from mid-January to early April with a foot injury, played 18 minutes on Wednesday vs. Sacramento and 20 minutes on Friday vs. Memphis.
- According to Stein (Twitter link), Lively’s foot injury was “at the center of some significant tensions” among some of the new members of the Mavs’ medical and performance team at the practice facility in February. President of basketball operations Nico Harrison defended the medical team during this week’s media session when asked how Lively was on the verge of returning to action in January before being diagnosed with a stress fracture. “It actually goes to show the strength of our medical team, because he was cleared to play, but his signs and symptoms—our medical team knew it was something more,” Harrison said. “And so that’s why they went and tested him again and saw the CT scan. They actually avoided a potential catastrophic injury.”
- Bobby Marks of ESPN has shared his preview of the Mavericks’ offseason in a YouTube video and in an ESPN.com Insider-only article. Marks explores what a new contract for injured guard Kyrie Irving might look like and identifies forward P.J. Washington as another key extension candidate to watch.
This team which is “defense” oriented should blow it up and draft their next franchise player; Nico should be canned too.
You know who wishes they didn’t sign Embiid to a super max? Luka will saddle the Lakers with an untradeable super max in 2-3 years when Luka’s body gives out. He’s been playing pro since 14, he’s got a 30-ur old body and he’s not in great shape like a Lebron.
Irving, Davis, Washington, Thompson, Lively, Gafford and Christie isn’t a bad start to a competitive roster next year if healthy. Definitely needs some work, but there is a solid foundation to build around though.
Imagine thinking any of those guys will still be there next year? Kyrie maybe, but expect the fire sale to start in full now Luka is gone. Klay Thompson did not sign up for this, he will want out to play on a legit contender. AD has decent trade value that other teams who view him as a better fit will want to talk to Dallas about.
If Irving didn’t go down the whole thing has a different vibe. Still a bad trade, but Irving is still an excellent PG
If he doesn’t die of Covid or measles.
Klay had every opportunity to go home to the Lakers and thought he was being so edgy joining the Mavericks. Congrats on getting played into thinking the worst front office in America sports was good
I’m actually really, really surprised he didn’t go to the Lakers, all things considered. Not really his fault that Nico decided to give the middle finger.
And honestly, if Irving didn’t tear his ACL, this would be a pretty decent team still (I still hated the trade).
@dezpoo I agree, AD and Kyrie are a nice start and they have a decent skeleton in place to build on. They need another elite player, but that player is not Klay. Will they tear the whole thing down though? Likely.
Whether you agree with trade or not. You can’t assess it without Kyrie playing. Getting AD already hurt. Says to me. Mavs really wanted to move on from OneWay Wonder. Has to be an owner move here. Cause they easily should of got another pick. Considering AD was already injured.
All of you can cry and keep looking back. Since living in negativity is where you feel right. Truth is Mavs have some serious decisions to make.
AD is 32. This trade was made to ride him and Kyrie Now. Kyrie injury already takes a year away from that window. Plus he is due a new contract. PJ and Gafford are going to be FA next year (2026-27). These are three core guys. And Kyrie one of your major stars. The Mavs only have their (1st rd) pick this year. Even if it is a good pick. He will be yrs from making a big impact. I would not pass on Kasparas Jakucionis. I might trade it for a young player who is ready now. Mavs don’t have cap space to sign a FA. Can they use their mid level. Will they ??
I have never been a Kyrie guy. Great talent. Just don’t want him on my team. I would trade him for Beal today. Get what I can. Start Beal at SG. And hooe he goes back to 25 a game Beal. He has two years to show the world he is still an all star. At least this way you have a two year window.
Kasparas can save the Mavs ……
Isn’t it about time you grew up and moved on from constantly referring to Doncic as OneWayWonder? It makes you sound just like a child.
Why that’s who he is. His nickname in Europe was WonderBoy. He spends more time crying to refs than playing defense. OneWay Wonder
“He spends more time crying to refs than playing defense” Kind of reminds me of Luka’s former backup that now stars in New York.
Luka isn’t a perennial contact and foul baiter. Brunson is top 5 in that department. Got nothing on Shae, though.
Jalen doesn’t cry like Luka. He get most offensive fouls than any guard. He tries more than Luka. Not great but he plays team D. Towns is worse. Luka worse than both.
If Nico Harrison trades Irving for Beal, he’d better hire a couple of bodyguards too.
Better to have your money playing. Than sitting getting healthy. Kyrie will be 34 when he comes back. And he’s going to want max money. Beai after a year can be traded. Suns will give up a pick too. So how is this in anyway a loss. At worst you get another pick. And trade Beal expiring contract. I would never bet my hopes on Kyrie.
I see a quick PG, a dynamic 2way SG and a backcourt defensive specialist as Dallas’s main needs.
They need quickness and heady PG play to complement their size and shooting
Best thing for Mavs is drafting Kasparas. He is a nice big PG. But Mavs window with AD is now. Kyrie is a big decision to me. I never liked Kyrie. I hope Williams steps up. At least a solid backup PG.
“Why are people still complaining about the worst trade since Babe Ruth?!?!”
A lot of parties are to blame for the Luka trade:
1. Nico Harrison – What hasn’t been already said?
2. Data analytics – “Defense wins championships”. The problem with data driven is overvaluing a single data point. Sports is more than plus/minuses and margins to determine an annual champion. Sports is emotional, sports is romantic, and there isn’t a greater romance than following a “face of the league” type franchise player that grows up with one team.
3. Mark Cuban – What many people don’t know is the Mavericks (team) have operated at a loss for many years during Cuban’s ownership. Cuban covered those losses with personal loans. This is as much Cuban’s fault for selling the team to casino people who actually care about profitability, instead of just the equity that comes with sports ownership.
4. Vegas arms race – Every sports league is trying to place a team in the Vegas honeypot. But Dallas is already a large metro. This anticipated move seems like such a waste. Why not move a team from a smaller market like Charlotte, Portland, Orlando, Memphis, Sacramento?
5. Miriam Adelson – Fun fact. Adelson was actually Trump’s 3rd largest donor this past election cycle, behind Elon Musk and Tim Mellon. I wonder if she gets a chuckle over screwing over Trump-critic Mark Cuban (just a little).
Imo the NBA is waiting for Bron to retire. So he and his group can get that Vegas franchise.
Incredible post. All facts. No notes. A+
Just how old is Luka (really)?
*wink
He had a beard at 16 lol ….
Not a Luka nor a Laker fan but tell me one thing that does not suck about the Mavs right now.. Their Best players are either Old or injured. J.Kidd, as much as I loved him as a player is Not a good coach and the Front office does not even know what they are doing. The Manager of their G League affiliate would have probably done a better Job getting a decent Deal for Luka.