The Dallas Mavericks pulled off one of the most stunning trades in NBA history last week when they traded superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. The deal, which seemingly came out of nowhere as both sides kept their negotiations quiet, was one of the most mind-boggling deals that a team fresh off of an NBA Finals appearance would do.
Former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban tried to stop Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade
The deal was so shocking that former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban reportedly tried to stop general manager Nico Harrison from completing the league-altering swap. Cuban sold a majority of his ownership stake during last season and had no control over the stunning decision made by the Mavericks’ front office.
“By the time Cuban found out about the Luka-for-AD trade, it was too late,” NBA insider Marc Stein wrote. “[Patrick] Dumont never approached for advice. Sources say Cuban urged Harrison not to go ahead with the swap … only to find out that the deal had already been sealed with the Lakers by verbal handshake.
“In truth he has clearly been stung, league sources say, by the lack of advance warning he had on the deal — yet another harsh signal that he has been pushed farther and farther away from the front office than he ever imagined after his very public belief at the time of the sale of the team in November 2023 that he would retain oversight of basketball operations.”
Cuban has made his love for Doncic very clear in the past, even famously saying jokingly that he would divorce his wife if it meant keeping the superstar in a Mavericks uniform back in 2020. At the time, he had a huge say in basketball operations that were made for the organization, but this time around, he had no influence whatsoever.
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Mavericks fans have expressed great displeasure with the trade
The trade was reasonably met with resentment from Mavericks fans across the country, as many of them felt betrayed after they were gifted with a young and rising superstar. Many also believed that Doncic was on his way to being enshrined with a statue at American Airlines Arena next to Dallas legend Dirk Nowitzki.
Perhaps that was the case for Doncic and Dallas. He made First Team All-NBA five times, won the scoring title last season, was a perennial MVP candidate, and led the Mavericks to their first Finals appearance since 2011. Things appeared to just be getting started in Dallas, but in one move, all of that hope was erased.
Davis is a phenomenal player and an NBA Champion himself who can get the Mavericks to where they want to be. However, most would agree that trading away a 25-year-old growing superstar for a player who is objectively worse is likely to be a decision they will regret making.
Doncic is set to make his Lakers debut Monday night against the Utah Jazz in what will be his first game since straining his calf on Christmas Day while still with the Mavericks. Davis, meanwhile, is expected to miss several weeks after suffering an adductor strain during his Mavericks debut on Saturday.
