On February 2, 2025, the Dallas Mavericks had a 70% chance of making the playoffs. They were 26-24, had just come off an NBA Finals appearance the previous season, and were still led by Luka Doncic, one of the best players in the world.
But that was also the day they made one of the most shocking trades in NBA history, dealing Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick. That single decision shattered their season.
Framed as a “win-now” move by GM Nico Harrison, the Mavericks gambled their future and their identity. The idea was to pair Davis with Kyrie Irving and make a deep postseason run by leaning into a defense-first identity.
Instead, everything collapsed. Since the trade, the Mavericks went just 13-19, sliding all the way to the 10th seed in the Western Conference. Their once-promising postseason path turned into a cautionary tale of impatience and poor roster management.
The warning signs showed up almost immediately. Anthony Davis suffered a groin injury in his very first game with Dallas. Kyrie Irving, the team’s other star, tore his ACL less than a month later.
Without Luka’s steady brilliance or Kyrie’s shot creation, Dallas became one-dimensional and unsteady. Their offense regressed, their defense failed to hold up, and the chemistry was gone. By the end of the regular season, they had completely unraveled.
They managed to beat the Sacramento Kings in the first Play-In game, largely due to a 40-point masterpiece from Davis. But in the do-or-die game against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Mavericks were outclassed in every way.
Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies to a blowout 120-106 win, sending the Mavericks home and closing the book on a disastrous season.
What makes this collapse even harder to swallow for Mavs fans is the context. Just last year, they had a 50-win season and reached the NBA Finals with Luka Doncic leading the way. He was only 25 and already a five-time All-NBA First Teamer. This was supposed to be the beginning of a dynasty, not the start of a rebuild.
Meanwhile, Doncic has thrived in Los Angeles. Since arriving, he has averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists while helping the Lakers surge to the third seed in the West.
He formed instant chemistry with LeBron James and Austin Reaves, making the Lakers one of the most dangerous teams in the playoffs. Every step of Luka’s rise in LA only amplifies the regret in Dallas.
Statistically, the Mavericks had a 70% shot at making the playoffs before the trade.
Over two months later, they’re out of the postseason entirely, left with a broken roster, a fanbase in revolt, and a front office that may never recover its credibility. What was supposed to be a championship push has instead become one of the most regrettable midseason trades in NBA history.
