Everything has gone downhill for the Dallas Mavericks since they shocked fans by trading franchise star Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis and Max Christie.
It was only a matter of time before general manager Nico Harrison’s decision came back to haunt the Mavs. Just over a month since the trade, they’re left with no star power. Davis hasn’t played since making his debut on Feb. 8, while Kyrie Irving is out for the season.
Dallas has seven players out indefinitely, including centers Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, as well as Olivier-Maxence Prosper.
Dallas Mavericks ‘Can’t Take Someone Out To Rest’
The Mavericks entered their March 9 matchup against the Phoenix Suns with just nine available players. Not only did they lose 125-116, but they finished with only seven healthy players after Kessler Edwards and Dwight Powell collided while chasing a loose ball; the latter required stitches.
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd admitted he had never been in a game where he literally couldn’t take a player out for rest.
“I’ve never seen this…Never been in a game where you can’t take someone out to rest them because we had no one to put in. That’s just end of the bench, normally you can put someone in … they are in back end stitches or couldn’t walk or so. It’s tough. It’s what it is. We gotta keep pushing forward,” he said post-game
Kidd also said last week that the team didn’t have a No. 1 option after the injuries to Irving and Davis.
“There’s no number one option, it’s team. Everyone touches it and whoever is open, shoot it. We don’t have a number one or a number two, we’re not built like that right now, we’re built on team… This isn’t to run plays for one person,” he said.
Naji Marshall and Klay Thompson have stepped up in recent games, but despite their combined 60 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists against the Suns, it wasn’t enough to get a win.
The Mavericks are still 10th in the Western Conference, but it seems like only a matter of time before the Suns—just 1 1/2 games back—or another team overtakes them for the final play-in spot. Kidd, at this point, can only laugh at their situation.
“I don’t think we can do that,” Kidd replied when asked about whether he and assistant coach Jared Dudley could provide any minutes off the bench. “We can’t sign anybody. It does cost too much. You’ve gotta laugh because if you don’t, this will drive you crazy.”