The Mavericks are getting brighter, and the Knicks are paying the price.
In a blatant attempt to defend a 2023 first-round draft pick, the NBA is “harming the league” by sitting all its key players in the penultimate game of the season. The Mavericks were fined $750,000 for conduct. to the Knicks.
There are no penalties for the pick itself.
“The Mavericks have violated the league’s player rest policy and demonstrated through their actions and public statements the organization’s desire to lose games in order to increase their chances of retaining a first-round pick in the NBA Draft,” the league said in a statement. ‘ said.
“The league didn’t realize that the players in the game weren’t playing to win.”
With half a game left in the play-in round, the Mavericks rested Kyrie Irving, Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Clever, Josh Green and Christian Wood.
Dallas only faced Luka Doncic in one quarter against the Bulls last Friday in what coach Jason Kidd called an “organizational decision.”
Dallas’ 2023 first-round pick, acquired by the Knicks in the 2019 Kristaps Porzingis trade, wouldn’t go unnoticed by a top 10 finish.
A 115-112 loss to Chicago positions the Mavs for the 10th pick (if the draft lottery goes through) at the Barclays Center on June 22nd.
“The Dallas Mavericks’ decision to limit the full participation of key players in last Friday’s elimination game against Chicago,” said Joe Dumars, NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations. “The Mavericks’ actions have disappointed our fans and the league.”
Unless the Mavericks’ first-round pick leaves the top 10, the Knicks will have to wait until next year for the pick to come through.
