FRESH of a Western Conference Finals appearance, the Dallas Mavericks were expected to be among the top teams this season with their resident superstar Luka Doncic leading the charge. However, the reality is much farther than the expectation as the Mavs are now three games under.500 (37-40) and 11th in the conference, just outside the play-in tournament.

Right after that playoff push, things started to go downhill for Dallas when they lost Doncic's running mate Jalen Brunson for nothing to the New York Knicks in free agency. Before the 2021-2022 season, Brunson was eligible to sign a four-year, $55.5 million and the Mavs had many chances to sign him but they reportedly 'looked the other way.' That was a huge loss for the Mavs.