The next morning came with no call. No message. No handshake. Nothing.
Zoran woke early. He still followed his routine—cold shower, loose dynamic stretch, protein bar by the window—but when he looked down at his phone, there was no update from the Mavericks.
His 10-day contract had expired at midnight.
He was no longer officially part of the team.
And yet no one told him to go.
At shootaround, he walked into the facility like usual. The security guard at the front nodded at him. Inside, the training staff welcomed him with the same practiced indifference they gave everyone. No one stopped him. No one confirmed he was supposed to be there.
The silence was beginning to feel hostile.
Max Christie greeted him with a casual fist bump. "You good for tonight?"
Zoran hesitated. "We'll see."
Jaden Hardy glanced up from his phone. "No word yet?"
Zoran shook his head.
Jason Kidd said nothing during film. Nico Harrison wasn't present.
Anthony Davis was the one who finally broke the tension.
"Why's the guy who bailed us out three nights ago not under contract?" he asked mid-meeting.
Silence.
Kidd cleared his throat. "We're evaluating all roster decisions. Next question."
Zoran didn't look up. He just kept scribbling notes on the scout for their next opponent.
Orlando.
Of course it was Orlando.
That afternoon, Zoran sat alone in the gym, hoodie pulled over his head, working through light ballhandling drills. Not intense. Just rhythmic.
Marko's message came in around 3 p.m.
"Orlando's GM is livid. They offered a short-term deal with a path to start. Nico refused to clear your rights. He's holding you in place."
Zoran didn't reply.
Not right away.
He just kept dribbling.
Left, right. Left, right. Through the legs. Behind the back. Again.
The team bus left for American Airlines Center at 4:45. Zoran didn't get on.
Not because he wasn't invited. But because no one told him if he was supposed to be there.
He sat in his hotel room, dressed in team sweats, watching the clock.
At 6:22 p.m., Kyrie texted:
"You coming?"
Zoran's reply was short.
"Contract expired."
"No one told you?"
"Told me what?"
There was no reply.
By 7:30, the game had started.
Zoran watched from his room. No broadcast intro mentioned his name. No graphics. No commentary on his status.
He wasn't benched.
He wasn't waived.
He was just—absent.
Invisible.
Anthony Davis started strong, but the Mavericks lacked perimeter punch. Hardy forced shots. Christie looked hesitant. Klay sat the second half with soreness.
Midway through the third quarter, the camera cut to Kidd barking at the bench, gesturing in frustration.
And still… no call.
9:11 p.m. Phone buzzed.
[Mavericks FO]
"Thanks for everything. You'll hear from us soon."
That was it.
Zoran stared at the message. No name. No details. Not even a courtesy call.
He didn't move for a while.
Then, slowly, he walked to the hotel gym, grabbed a ball, and started shooting again.
Nobody said he couldn't.
Mavericks Record: 5–3.
Zoran Vranes: Technically unsigned. In limbo.
--------Authors Note--------
Not gonna lie i kinda forgot that he only had 1 day left on his contract so thats why this might seem kinda sudden. Mb