However, none of that was as sudden, or gave the league the black eye, that the Mavericks did. That’s not good for the regular season product or fans who have tickets that night, but this has been a problem all season and it’s a little late to put the genie back in the bottle. This happens on both ends of the spectrum - the Bucks, Celtics and 76ers are sitting their stars in games to rest them for a playoff run. One could argue Detroit did 12 games into the season after Cade Cunningham was injured, or that San Antonio did before the season tipped off. Charlotte pulled back as injuries changed their season. Utah kept stripping the roster with trades (despite being in the play-in mix midseason). Portland pivoted a few weeks ago and sat Damian Lillard and its other name players to try and hold on to top-five lottery odds. Other NBA teams have blatantly tanked, with the possible prize of Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson making it particularly tempting this season. “The NBA commenced an investigation today into the facts and circumstances surrounding the Dallas Mavericks’ roster decisions and game conduct with respect to last night’s Chicago Bulls-Mavericks game, including the motivations behind those actions.” It was a bad look for the league and the NBA, which is now investigating, NBA spokesman Mike Bass said. It was naked tanking - and it worked, the Bulls won, eliminating the Mavericks from the postseason and keeping Dallas in the top 10 in draft order. So management pulled the plug at the last minute - Kyrie Irving, Josh Green, Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber and Christian Wood all were out and Dončić played one quarter then was pulled (he only played that quarter because it was “I Feel Slovenia” night in the Dallas arena). On Tuesday Luka Dončić was saying he wanted to keep playing as long as there was a mathematical chance to make the play-in, and there was still one Friday night, but a win (against a Chicago team sitting all its stars) would have severely hurt Dallas’ chances of holding on to their pick (owed the Knicks but top-10 protected). However, few have been more naked about it than the Mavericks were Friday night. They landed contracts and have a chance to play at the next level.There has been tanking in the NBA this season, as there has been every season for more than a decade. The Mavericks may not be playing for a Summer League championship this year, but some players on the cusp of the NBA made the most out of their time in Las Vegas. “It was to get people jobs, Braxton Key got a two-way, and we just gave Taze Moore an Exhibit 10.” ![]() “When I came to Summer League, to win games we’re 3-1,” Dudley said Friday. In three games, he averaged 8.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals in 19.1 minutes. ![]() Key’s signing came one day after he had an emphatic putback dunk to give Dallas an overtime win against the Golden State Warriors. Key signed a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images) Getty Imagesįorward Braxton Key will also get a shot to prove himself in the NBA it just won’t be with the Mavericks. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. City Thunder during the second quarter at the Thomas & Mack Center on Jin Las Vegas, Nevada. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 08: Braxton Key #36 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on against the Oklahoma.
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