Mavericks trusted Anthony Davis and he is repeatedly making them regret it

Everyone knew from the moment the Luka Doncic trade was reported that the Dallas Mavericks had lost the trade. What has been most difficult about the year since has been how Anthony Davis and the team are continually introducing and snuffing out hope in a roller coaster of emotions for Mavericks fans.

The Mavericks just hosted the Golden State Warriors and took them down despite a big game from Stephen Curry. It was the Mavs' 19th win of the season, and it came from an ensemble performance as Dallas was down its two max players and all three of their rotation centers. In the midst of a difficult season, it was a feel-good moment.

The Warriors were reeling in the aftermath of losing star forward Jimmy Butler to an ACL tear. His injury and the timing mirror that of Kyrie Irving for the Mavericks last year. In both cases, fans were able to process the gut punch, as hard as it was, and then move forward with some certainty given the injury timeframe. Knowing your star will miss a year is brutal news, but once you process it you can rely on it.

Anthony Davis keeps getting hurt

It has been the exact opposite of a ride with Anthony Davis since he joined the Mavericks. His situation has been much more analogous to Zion Williamson or Ja Morant, who are available for a stretch of games but then miss time unexpectedly for all manner of injury. The Mavs need Anthony Davis in uniform, and he has failed to meet that need.

It has been one thing after another for Davis. His injury history just since coming to Dallas a year ago reads like someone trying to name every type of basketball injury a player can have.

Abdomen. Adductor. Thigh. Groin. Adductor. Groin. Achilles. Leg. Calf. Illness. Groin. Hand. Does he have injury BINGO yet?

When Davis plays, the Mavericks are good. Good enough for the team to think that they could be really good once Kyrie Irving returns from his ACL recovery. The organization reportedly would like to see Cooper Flagg, Irving and Davis all play together before moving on from one of Davis or Irving, and there is good reason to think that trio could be successful.

Yet every time Davis steps in and plays great for a handful of games, he then suffers another injury. Often they occur at the most bizarre times within games, such as pulling up short on a fast break runout or bending back his hand while defending a drive. Most NBA players have one freak injury during their career; Davis has them on a monthly basis.

When rumors pointed to the team shopping Davis earlier in the season, it appeared that closure was in sight. He would be gone, and another team could deal with the roller coaster. Hope, no hope, winning, losing, healthy, injured, up and down. Now even that closure is being denied, as his latest hand injury is scaring teams off.

Things are getting bleak in Dallas

There have been highlight moments this season, when Cooper Flagg shows off what made him the No. 1 pick in the draft, or when a role player like PJ Washington or Naji Marshall step up and have a huge game. Going into Madison Square Garden and blowing out the New York Knicks was great. Beating the Warriors in front of the home crowd was great.

Not great? Everything to do with Anthony Davis, unfortunately. As he and his agent Rich Paul push for a trade to get paid, the Mavericks are likely stuck keeping him on the roster for the rest of the season and perhaps beyond. The roller coaster continues.

The hardest part about trading for Anthony Davis? The hope. At some point, as it is with the worst teams, fans can no longer handle the sudden changes and they become numb. The Mavericks have to hope they don't inflict that on their fans.

For now, however, the options seem bleak. Perhaps hope will rise again; or perhaps it will be snuffed out. Such is the Anthony Davis experience.