For everything that has gone wrong for the Utah Jazz, they can take legitimate pride that they didn't do something historically stupid like trade Luka Doncic less than a year after making the finals and about to enter his prime. However, after Dallas justifiably fired Nico Harrison for making such a move, this could make the Mavericks among the Jazz's stiffest tanking competition in 2026.
Even after the Doncic fiasco, the Mavericks did not enter this season anticipating a tankjob. They still had Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis. Sure, Kyrie Irving was out for the season, but Dallas had every intention of competing.