How Low Can Mavericks Go? Not Much Further, Knicks Hope
Thanks to the NFL, rooting against Dallas is often no chore for fans in New York City, though it's a pastime often relegated to the fall. The demise of another metroplex staple, however, is creating some springtime vitriol ... in moderation.
In New York, a sense of festering panic has perhaps set in over the fact that the New York Knicks have dropped three games in a row and six of their past nine as the NBA postseason looms. But the Knicks' issues are far from the most egregious in the Association, as the focus in that department has instead turned to the Dallas Mavericks.
Coached by brief Knick Jason Kidd, the Luka Dončić-led Mavericks (36-39) are in the midst of a disappointing follow-up to their Western Conference Finals visit from last season. If the season ended today, Jalen Brunson's former group would miss the postseason entirely, as they're currently the West's 11th-place team, a game behind the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder for the final Play-In Tournament spots. Dallas has lost four in a row, the last two to the lowly Charlotte Hornets, and is 7-13 since All-Star Kyrie Irving came over in a trade deadline deal with the Brooklyn Nets.
How does this affect the Knicks? The Mavericks' success or failure normally wouldn't mean much in New York considering their contrasting conferences, but the Knicks are the current owners of Dallas' choice at the upcoming NBA Draft. It's the final unnamed yield of the infamous Kristaps Porzingis trade from 2019, one that also brought DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, and Dennis Smith Jr. to New York. Dallas also sent what became the 21st pick in the 2021 draft over, but the Knicks dealt that to the Los Angeles Clippers for the choice that eventually yielded Quentin Grimes.
Like many trades in the modern NBA, the import carries protection, as Dallas will keep the choice if it lands in the top ten. If the Mavericks do fall that far, the pick would then transfer in either 2024 or 2025 and become a second-round transfer otherwise. As it stands, the Brunson-free Mavericks' tumble down the Western Conference standings would place them 10th on the current lottery odds board a half behind Chicago in 11th (with that pick transferring to the Orlando Magic).
The Knicks thus likely hope the Mavericks at least somewhat get their act together as the postseason approaches. A pick within the top 15 would certainly help the Knicks as they try to fulfill a not-so-subtle goal of landing another All-Star-worthy talent as they look to build on the momentum of this season.
In the meantime, New York (42-33) will look to work on its own current playoff fortunes, seeking to end a three-game losing streak against the Mavericks' fellow Texans, the Houston Rockets, on Monday night at Madison Square Garden (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Knicks? Click Here.
Follow AllKnicks.com on Twitter.
