Home Daily Gossip RUMOR: Mavs planned to tank as early as late March; Luka, Kyrie...

RUMOR: Mavs planned to tank as early as late March; Luka, Kyrie refused

Photo: Dallas Mavericks/Twitter

Even before they committed one of the most controversial tank jobs ever on their Apr. 7 match against the Chicago Bulls, the Dallas Mavericks have reportedly come in sooner of plotting to put their season in the bin.

Per Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, (h/t Sports Illustrated’s Michael Mulford), the Mavs already had initial plans to surrender in this season, but both of their stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving expressed their disapproval of it.

“The tanking was actually supposed to begin sooner,” O’Connor said. “My sources say that in late March, Dallas coaches met with players to discuss a plan for Markieff Morris and JaVale McGee to play heavier minutes. That is when the tanking was supposed to begin but Luka and especially Kyrie were agitated that the team was waving the white flag and both refused to sit.”

Despite acquiring Irving last midseason, the Mavs were hammered by injuries, inconsistencies, defensive lapses, and roster misfits which ultimately dropped that curtain towards their season. As such, their initial intent to surrender can only raise more doubts about their plans to be a competitive franchise with Mark Cuban at the helm while satisfying the contending side of Doncic.

This may also be a swinging factor on their intent to retain Irving, who is set to hit the market as an unrestricted free agent.

Dallas became successful with their idea to tank – skipping the Play-In tourney and gained great odds to secure their first-round pick from the New York Knicks upon the effect of Kristaps Porzingis trade. But despite that, they had to pay the price of their blunderous scheme to complete it.

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