Well, well, well… the Dallas Mavericks finally got Anthony Davis back on the court. After missing over a month with a left adductor strain, AD made his return on March 24, putting up 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists in a comfortable 120-101 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Great news, right? Not so fast. While his return is obviously a boost, it could be the exact thing that kills Dallas’ long-term future.
See, the Mavs are stuck in a tricky situation—win now with AD and risk climbing out of the lottery, or fall apart and secure a shot at a franchise-changing player like Cooper Flagg in the draft. And given how much they gave up to land Anthony Davis in the first place, they can’t exactly afford to mess this up.
But Davis wasn’t about to let his squad struggle while he sat on the sidelines. He made it clear before his return that he was fully locked in. “We’re trying to make a push… see what happens in the play-in, playoffs, anything can happen,” he said. And sure enough, the Mavs responded with their first back-to-back wins in over a month.
Exciting, is it not? Yes and No.
Mar 24, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) dribbles up court during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
There is no doubt that it’s wonderful to see the veteran forward take the court; to see him help the Mavs succeed. However, the problem is it hurts their chances in the NBA Draft Lottery. Before AD’s recovery, Dallas was primed to land that top pick. But if they keep winning, their shot at Cooper Flagg could disappear. And if you’re wondering why missing out on Flagg would be such a big deal, just know this: the kid has all the makings of a future NBA superstar with elite defensive instincts, playmaking skills, and a motor that never stops. Simply put, the kind of player you can build a franchise around.
In other words, exactly the type of young star the Mavs desperately need after shipping out Luka Doncic.
Nico Harrison’s gamble is backfiring
General Manager Nico Harrison took one of the biggest risks in NBA history when he traded Luka to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. At the time, he defended the move, saying, “We’ve positioned ourselves to win now and win in the future.“
But let’s be real—Dallas fans weren’t buying it. Swapping a 25-year-old MVP candidate for a 31-year-old injury-prone big man raised eyebrows across the league. And now, with AD’s return actually hurting their lottery odds, the trade looks even worse.
This is the ultimate lose-lose situation: If the Mavs win too many games, they miss out on Cooper Flagg and the chance to truly rebuild. If they fall apart anyway, they’ll still have to answer why they traded Luka in the first place.
And what about the Lakers? Oh, they’re doing just fine. Luka and LeBron are turning L.A. into a nightmare for opposing defenses, and Doncic is thriving on the big stage. Meanwhile, Dallas is fighting just to avoid being irrelevant.
Feb 19, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and guard Luka Doncic (77) during the second quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
So, what’s the move here? Dallas could try to tank late in the season—but good luck convincing the 10x All-Star to slow down after just coming back from injury. Plus, the Mavs already owe their 2025 first-rounder to the Knicks, meaning they don’t even fully control their draft fate.
At this point, all eyes are on Cooper Flagg’s draft stock and whether Dallas can somehow get lucky in the lottery. Because if they don’t? This trade could go down as one of the biggest disasters in NBA history. Harrison, for his part, bet everything on Anthony Davis. But if this keeps going sideways, his time in Dallas might be running out, too.
The post Anthony Davis’ Recovery in Rehab May Hurt Nico Harrison’s Chances of Saving Mavs Future After Disastrous Luka Doncic Trade appeared first on EssentiallySports.
