As the NBA season enters its final month, all but the top seeds in each conference remain competitive. In the West, the Thunder (53-11) need to win eight of their final 18 games to tie the franchise record for wins since moving to Oklahoma. In the East, the Cavaliers (54-10), who became just the second team to win 14 straight games while scoring at least 110 points in each, need to win 13 of their last 18 to break the franchise record set by LeBron James 15 years ago. As for the remaining 28 teams, some have already clinched their playoff spots but not their seeds, while others, like the Dallas Mavericks, just want the season to end so they can focus on the future after a disastrous campaign.
Kevin Durant to the Mavs?
The Mavericks’ season couldn’t get any worse with the Luka Doncic trade and several injuries, including Kyrie Irving’s season-ending setback and Anthony Davis going down after just three quarters with the team. These and many other injuries to key players left them with only seven players available for their last game against the Phoenix Suns. In that game, a brief interaction between Kevin Durant and Mavs coach Jason Kidd suggested that Durant could be headed to Dallas in the offseason, as reports indicate that he will not be returning to Phoenix – unless of course they win the title, which, if we’re being honest, would be a win if they even make the playoffs.
Durant would join the Mavericks to form a super big three with Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. This trio looks like the perfect combination of scoring and defense, and I’d put them on par with any team in the league when it comes to championship contention next season. However, the price for Durant would likely be at least a first-round pick or two and some promising young players like Dereck Lively II or newly acquired Max Christie. While it’s still just a rumor, a move like this would be the only thing capable of reigniting fan interest in the team, as the fanbase seems to have turned against the organization since Doncic’s departure.
Mavs or Suns Who Gets the Play-In Spot?
The Mavericks (32-33) and the Suns (30-34) currently sit in 10th and 11th place in the West. With injuries piling up and a five-game losing streak, the Suns will likely leapfrog Dallas and sneak into the play-in tournament. That might actually be the best case scenario for the Mavericks – to end the season as soon as possible so they can start planning their next moves, which I’m sure they’re already doing because, as everyone knows, the outlook is grim.
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