5 most disappointing teams of the 2022-23 NBA season

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Feb 2, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) waits for play to resume against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Dallas Mavericks

Dallas sat with a 30-24 record before the Feb. 9 trade deadline, primed to make a big time move to fuel their title run. We heard several names floated around with Dallas who had the available cap space and assets allowing them to make a big move. The Mavericks decided to acquire All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving, who was dealt to Dallas for a heavy price just a few days after requesting a trade.

Strangely enough, initially the move reminded me of when Toronto acquired Kawhi Leonard the year of their title run. It was a bold, successful move by Masai Ujuri considering how of a gamble Toronto was taking acquiring Leonard for just one year. To acquire Irving, Dallas gave up their best defender Dorian Finney-Smith, along with their second best player Spencer Dinwiddie and a protected first round pick.

The move quickly become a disastrous mistake by for the Mavericks, ripping any chance of winning or playoff hope from the team. Dallas put up an 8-19 record after the Irving deal, a mark so poor Dallas missed the Play-In Tournament. It’s truly an utter collapse, with Dallas sitting in fifth place in the West when the Irving deal was made.

The appeal in Kyrie Irving will continue to last for years on end. He’s an incredibly talented player, truly one of a kind. He’s one the best scorers in our game, but he can’t defend and is detrimental to organizational culture. Irving put up good numbers in his short stint with Dallas, offensively that is.

After acquiring Irving, Dallas became the worst defensive team in the NBA, unable to stop anyone without Finney-Smith. While there’s no denying Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are a dynamic offensive combo, if this team fails to address it’s defensive needs in the offseason they will remain a bottom-feeder in the Western Conference.

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