Mavericks' Playoff Hopes Dashed Despite Kyrie Irving Acquisition.

The Dallas Mavericks traded for Kyrie Irving with the intention of competing for a championship, but instead unapologetically punted on any chance they might have had at the postseason by sitting Irving and other key players for "precautionary" reasons. This move, along with the larger problem of tanking in the NBA, damages the league's reputation and product. The Mavericks' decision was motivated by the top-10 protection on their 2023 first-round pick owed to the Knicks, which encourages teams to put a bad product on the floor with the intention of losing games.