ESPN rubs salt in the Mavericks’ gaping Luka Doncic trade wound

When Nico Harrison traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis on February 1, he believed that it would set up the Dallas Mavericks to win now and into the future, but ESPN doesn't agree with that notion. ESPN has been critical of the trade at times, and rightfully so, but their doubt about the Mavericks has overflowed into their future.

In a recent article called "NBA Future Power Rankings: New three-year outlooks for all 30 teams," ESPN ranked the Mavericks at No. 16. This is a despicably low ranking, especially since Dallas was just in the NBA Finals a little over a year ago, and not even Cooper Flagg could save the Mavericks from getting dunked on by ESPN in this story.

Falling from No. 5 to No. 16 in just one year is a major fall, and it can mostly fall upon Nico Harrison's shoulders, according to ESPN. Tim Bontemps dove into why the Doncic-Davis swap going down right before Doncic started his prime was a major reason for this fall, as well as Kyrie Irving tearing his ACL in March. The Mavericks couldn't catch a break following the Doncic trade, as Davis got hurt in his debut game and Irving went down less than a month later, and ESPN seems to think their bad fortune will continue.

ESPN throws haymaker at Mavericks' future outlook

Bontemps has fair points, as the Doncic trade was objectively not a great move, and Irving tearing his ACL is not ideal as he enters his 15th season in the NBA, but the criticism doesn't stop there.

ESPN ranked the Mavericks to have the 11th-best roster over the next three years, which is respectable, but the rest of their rankings are what may have Dallas fans up in arms. They ranked their money situation at No. 24, future draft picks at No. 21, the market at No. 10 (which is fine), and the management at No. 20.

It was hard enough for Mavericks fans to see Doncic get traded when he did, and ESPN doubting their future this much for everyone to see just makes everything worse.

ESPN clearly doesn't believe in the Mavericks' future, even with Flagg, Davis, and Irving leading the way, and they'll be on a mission to prove the doubters wrong. Even though Irving is set to miss a major chunk of next season, they have the roster to be a respected contender in the Western Conference in the 2026-27 or 2027-28 season at the very least, and their three-year future isn't as bleak as it seems.

The 2025-26 season could end up being a gap year since Irving is injured and Flagg is only a rookie, but the two seasons following that will be all gas and no brakes for Dallas. This summer, they made moves to extend P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Irving, and if no trades go down, those three players will be around for both of those seasons.

The Mavericks have done a great job of locking talent down, especially future talent, and Flagg is only going to get better as time goes on. Dallas fans can rest assured that the Mavericks' situation is nowhere close to as bad as ESPN is making it seem, and Flagg turning into a top player in the league by the time he is done with his third season would change everything.

Flagg is clearly the team's future X-factor when it comes to this ranking, and his rise could have ESPN eating their words by the time that next year's rankings come out.