Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks advanced to the Western Conference Finals last season, and the championship contender is currently 13-11 and tied for seventh in the West among three-time All-Stars.
So how much time will Doncic spend in his NBA career with the team? According to ESPN’s Tim McMahon, Dallas has a two-year window to prove they can win a championship with the fifth-year guard.
Based on several NBA betting sites, the Mavericks have the 10th-best odds to win the championship in 2023. Few sportsbooks offer better odds for the Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets.
Every day ends with y… Luka Doncic sets a new record. #MVP #MFF | @luka7doncic pic.twitter.com/NOFrPe5mCF
— Bally Sports South West (@BallySportsSW) December 6, 2022
“I think they have a two-year window,” McMahon said on the “Brian Windhorst and The Hoop Collective” podcast. “They’re going to go in there this season and next season. [2024] Winter.
“I think they have a two-year window like Milwaukee did with Giannis Antetokounmpo, and in that window I think they have to convince Luka Doncic that he has a chance to compete year-to-year here in Dallas,” he said.
Although Mavs owner Mark Cuban believes he did everything he could to re-sign Jaylen Brunson during the offseason, one can only wonder if Brunson’s departure angered Donchi.
ESPN’s Tim McMahon believes the Mavericks have a two-year window to win a championship with Luka Doncic
At the quarter mark of the 2022-23 season, Dallas is now in the same position as last season. The Mavericks have started the 2021-22 season with a 12-12 record in their first 24 games.
The guard is also in the first year of a five-year, $215.2 million contract. Everything may be looking good right now, but the team is still missing another backcourt star.
In 23 starts, Doncic is averaging 32.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He is shooting 50.3% from the field and 34.8% from behind the arc.
Doncic leads Dallas in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. The second most productive player on the Mavericks is center Christian Wood. By comparison, Wood is averaging 16.7 points, 7.7 boards and 1.4 assists in 21 games off the bench.
Luka Doncic and the Mavs trail the Pistons 99-89 entering the 4th quarter.
Dallas currently has the 2nd worst road record in the NBA 😳. pic.twitter.com/NzmZoVWo1r
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) December 2, 2022
This is not acceptable for competitive play. They lack roster depth, consistency and talent. The Mavs are a Doncic injury away from being a sub-.500 pretender.
“If they can’t get it done in that two-year window, I’m not going to sit here and tell you it’s going to force a trade or demand a trade,” McMahon said. “If he’s not happy at that point, if he wants permission, I’m saying he has all the power in the world.
Mavericks fans thought Cuban was going to be traded for former Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell during the offseason. However, agreement never materialized.
Of course, the Cleveland Cavaliers made a trade for Mitchell in September. He is averaging a career-high 29 points this season with Cleveland.
A trade for another top scorer is essential if Dallas wants to win a championship with Luka Doncic.
