It is funny how quickly things can change. Just over a year ago, the Mavericks were being investigated by the NBA after intentionally tanking to miss the NBA playoffs . The 115-112 loss to Chicago guaranteed Dallas had no hope of appearing in the play-in tournament, where it could have tried to go on an unlikely run to the NBA Finals.
Instead, despite making a move for superstar guard Kyrie Irving at the trade deadline, the Mavericks made a clear concession that the team — as constructed in that moment — was not good enough to win a title. So, Dallas lost. But in reality, the Mavericks won in a big way.
Get on Board the NBA Finals | Dallas Mavericks v Boston Celtics | Every game of the NBA Finals LIVE on ESPN, available via Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today > Doncic x Gafford combo sink Timberwolves | 01:00 By throwing away the game against the Bulls, Dallas improved its chances of keeping its first-round pick in that year’s draft. Quickly for context, in case you have forgotten by now, the Mavericks still owed a first-round pick to the New York Knicks as part of the trade for Kristaps Porzingis in 2019 at that point.
But if the draft lottery handed them a top-10 selection, they wouldn’t have to give it up. A lower finish in the overall standings, of course, gave them better odds of drawing a top-10 pick. The Mavericks were fined $750,000 after that league investigation was completed but it mattered little as they drew the No.
10 pick, later trading back o.