The Dallas Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic for the Los Angeles Lakers on February 1st sent shockwaves through the NBA. In exchange for the All-NBA guard, Dallas received Anthony Davis, Young Guard Max Christie, and the 2029 first round draft pick. But on the sidelines by the adductor, Davis has been playing one game since the deal, with many questioning the wisdom of movement. Meanwhile, the Lakers thrived, winning eight straight games and securing a second seed in the Western Conference, but the Mavericks struggled to finish 10th in just 19 regular season games.
Mark Cuban, who sold a majority stake in the Mavericks but remains a minority owner, has kept his distance from trade and makes it clear that he is not involved in the decision. Speaking to the WFAA, Cuba expressed his frustration:
“If Mavs trade Luka, that’s one thing. They’ll just get a better deal. Anthony Davis isn’t rude, but if they land four unprotected first-round picks with Davis and Christie, this would be a completely different conversation.”
History repeats for Mark Cuban and the Mavericks
Cuba’s disappointment isn’t just about losing a generation of talent like Doncic. It is the lack of return. He pointed out that a similar situation occurred in 2004 when the Mavericks lost Steve Nash to free agency. Nash won two MVP awards, but Cuba comforted the fact that Dallas ultimately won the NBA Championship.
“I’ve been through this before,” Cuba recalled. “When Nash left, it was tough. But at the time, social media wasn’t amplifying any movements. While mistakes happen, the Mavericks’ key issue is now not just the deal itself, but the lack of clear communication from the front office.”
The secrets surrounding trade were a source of great dissatisfaction for both fans and analysts. Reports suggest that general manager Nico Harrison did not shop widely around the league, focusing on the Lakers. Some sources claim he handed out a larger trade package to keep negotiations cautious and avoid player backlash.
Now the Mavericks find themselves in an unstable position. The trade was intended to enhance his chances of competing with Kyrie Irving, but the whole season is lost as Irving was sidelined due to an ACL injury. Dallas hopes Davis, Irving and newly acquired Clay Thompson can regain their peak form next season.
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