I’ve been a Dallas Mavericks fan my entire life. I watched Dirk Nowitzki carry this franchise on his back for two decades. I ugly-cried when we beat the Heat in 2011. I bought the Luka Doncic jersey the day he was drafted. And now? Now I’m sitting here wondering how everything fell apart so fast.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably hurting too. Maybe you’re still in denial. Maybe you’re angry. Maybe you’ve already moved on to the bargaining stage where you convince yourself that Anthony Davis Mavericks highlights will eventually look like the trade was worth it. I’ve been through all of it. And I’m here to tell you — it’s okay to be heartbroken. Because what’s happening to our team right now is genuinely heartbreaking.
The Luka Doncic Trade Still Doesn’t Feel Real
Let’s just say it out loud: the Luka Doncic trade was the most shocking moment in Dallas Mavericks history. Maybe in NBA history. Nine months ago, former general manager Nico Harrison sent our 25-year-old superstar — a guy who was supposed to be our franchise cornerstone for the next decade — to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis.
At the time, some fans tried to talk themselves into it. Davis was a top-20 player. He’d just averaged nearly 26 points and 12 rebounds. He made the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams. Maybe Harrison saw something we didn’t?
Well, here’s what we’ve seen since: Anthony Davis has played five games this season. Five. He missed time with an abductor strain, then a calf strain. Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving is still recovering from an ACL tear he suffered late last season. Our two highest-paid players have combined to play fewer games than my little cousin’s middle school team.
And Nico Harrison? He got fired last week. The guy who blew up our franchise is gone, but we’re still stuck with the mess he left behind.
The Dallas Mavericks Trade Deadline Is Going to Hurt
If you thought the pain was over, I’ve got bad news. The NBA trade deadline is less than 50 days away, and according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Daniel Gafford is the most likely Maverick to be traded.
This one stings. Gafford — “The Landlord” — helped lead us to the 2024 NBA Finals as our starting center. He was one of the few bright spots during the Luka era’s final chapter. Fans loved him. I loved him. And now he’s probably gone.
Here’s what Fischer said on his podcast: Gafford’s $18 million average annual salary is “very manageable” for teams looking to add a rim-running center.
The Indiana Pacers are already interested. His three-year, $54 million extension was specifically structured to avoid a six-month trade restriction — which tells you everything you need to know about how the front office viewed him. They liked him enough to pay him, but they also wanted the freedom to ship him out whenever they wanted.
With Dereck Lively II out for the year and Davis constantly injured, trading Gafford would leave us with Moussa Cisse and Dwight Powell as our healthy big men. That’s not a playoff roster. That’s a prayer.
The Front Office Is a Mess
Want to know what scares me the most? Nobody knows who’s actually running this team.
Right now, Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi are serving as interim general managers. Finley played for the Mavs from 1996 to 2005 and has been in the front office since 2021. But here’s the thing — we don’t even know how much authority these guys have to make moves.
Meanwhile, Mark Cuban has reportedly reinserted himself into basketball decisions. Jason Kidd is making his opinions known.
New owner Patrick Dumont is listening to everyone after learning the hard way what happens when you trust the wrong people. Dennis Lindsey’s name has been floated as a potential GM candidate.
That’s a lot of voices. And when you have that many people trying to steer the ship, you usually end up crashing into something.
Cooper Flagg Mavericks Fans Have Reason for Hope
Okay, deep breath. It’s not all doom and gloom. There’s one reason to believe the future might actually be bright: Cooper Flagg.
The 18-year-old rookie recently dropped 42 points on the Utah Jazz and has shown flashes of legitimate superstar potential.
He’s the reason Dallas tanked its way into the lottery last season, and he might be the reason this franchise matters again in five years.
Here’s what excites me about Flagg:
- He’s already showing a second-year leap in his rookie season
- His 80% free throw percentage suggests his jump shot will develop over time
- He can play multiple positions and create his own offense
- He’s only 18—his ceiling is through the roof
- He gives us something to actually root for right now
The problem? The Mavericks don’t control their own first-round picks after 2026 until 2031. That means if Flagg doesn’t develop quickly, we’re stuck in basketball purgatory for years. We can’t even benefit from being bad because our losses help other teams, not us.
The Money Situation Is Ugly
Let me throw some numbers at you that will make your head spin.
The Dallas Mavericks are projected to pay a $142 million luxury tax penalty this season—the largest in franchise history. When you add that to the actual player salaries, ownership is looking at spending roughly $370 million to field this roster.
A roster that’s currently near the bottom of the Western Conference.
Anthony Davis is making $54.1 million this year. He’s eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension in August that would pay him $76 million at age 37. Just let that sink in for a moment.
The team is also stuck under the second apron, which means they can’t take back more money in trades, can’t use the taxpayer mid-level exception, and have almost no flexibility to improve the roster. They have exactly two second-round picks to trade. That’s it.
What Being a Mavs Fan Feels Like Right Now
For 25 years, the Dallas Mavericks have been one of the most consistent franchises in basketball. Second-most wins since 2000, behind only the Spurs. Three Finals appearances. A championship. We never had to experience true rebuilding because there was always a star to build around—first Dirk, then Luka.
Now? We’re being asked to trust a process that doesn’t have a clear leader, a timeline that extends into the 2030s, and a roster that can’t stay healthy. We’re being told that Cooper Flagg is the future while watching the present crumble in real time.
I’m not giving up on this team. I’ve been a Mavs fan for too long to quit now.
But I’d be lying if I said this doesn’t hurt. Because it does. It really does.
So if you’re out there refreshing Twitter for Dallas Mavericks trade rumors, wondering if Anthony Davis Mavericks will ever work out, or hoping the Daniel Gafford trade brings back something good—just know you’re not alone. We’re all going through this together.
And maybe, just maybe, Cooper Flagg will make all this pain worth it someday.
