NBA Rumors: Mavericks Considering Brazen Move With Doncic & Irving

The Dallas Mavericks continue their post-Kyrie Irving swoon, now sitting at 37-42, in 11th spot in the West, two games back of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the final Play-In spot (if you consider that OKC owns the tiebreaker with Dallas), with just three games to play. And now, according to a report, they're considering SHUTTING DOWN Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving for the rest of the season.

“I think the Mavericks have to seriously look at whether you shut down Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving these last 3 games of the regular season” 😬@ShamsCharania on the #Mavs mindset going into the final 3 games#RunItBack #MFFL pic.twitter.com/IPqgwS2YHm
— FanDuel TV (@FanDuelTV) April 3, 2023

Per NBA Insider Shams Charania,

I'm told that the organization is seriously coinsidering the possibility of shutting down those (two) guys.

Why? It all comes down to a Dallas Top 10 protected first-rounder that they owe the New York Knicks that comes into play.

Being out of the play-in race, it behooves them to try to keep their pick, and at that point you have the flexibility of potentially having that top 10 pick... you have three first-round picks that you can trade this offseason to go get a star.

If the Mavs continue to do poorly in the final three games and finish with the 10th-worst record in the league (currently where they sit) or lower, then that first-rounder has a better chance stay with them (depending on how the lottery turns out); a finish any better than that, and it would most likely convey to the Knicks (again, ping pong balls will have a say).

Dallas is currently 7-12 with Irving. They fell from the 4th spot in the West at the time of the trade, to their current 11th.

Bottom line, as Shams says, they need to look at what they want to prioritize going into the offseason.

Irving becomes a free agent, and deciding on whether to try to keep him is a critical decision the Mavericks will have to make for the future of the franchise. It's just possible, per this report, that he may have just played his last game with the team.

Photo: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports