The Mavericks might wave the white flag by sitting Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic to protect a draft pick

When the Dallas Mavericks pulled off a blockbuster trade for Kyrie Irving at this year’s trade deadline, they fancied themselves legitimate NBA title contenders. Instead, it’s been all downhill, as the Mavs have dropped to 11th in the Western Conference playoff picture.

Oh, and to add insult, Irving might not even stay with Dallas after this season ends. Oof.

With the regular season winding down and seemingly not much to play for, Dallas might soon be waving the white flag on a post-trade era that seemed like it had so much promise.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, there is a viable scenario where Dallas sits Doncic and Irving to protect their draft selection in the 2023 NBA Draft. If the pick ends up in the top 10 after the draft lottery, the Mavericks get to keep it. If it ends up outside of the top 10, it belongs to the New York Knicks.

That means any win the Mavericks get from here on in — if they don’t bench Doncic and Irving — could impact this pick.

“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

The Mavericks haven’t outlined their plans in public just yet. But there’s clearly a lot at stake when it comes to the future after some disastrous trade results. Though, to be fair, it’s not as if Dallas has been doing much winning with Doncic and Irving playing, either.