DALLAS — In recent NBA news, former Dallas Mavericks majority owner, Mark Cuban, expressed his thoughts on the trade that sent star player Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The deal, finalized on February 1, saw Doncic moving as part of a surprise three-team deal that brought Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round draft pick to Dallas, a move that has faced significant backlash.
Mavericks’ general manager, Nico Harrison, has faced criticism since orchestrating the trade. Cuban remarked on the decision during an interview with WFAA TV in Dallas, stating that if trading Doncic was inevitable, a far more advantageous deal was necessary. “No disrespect to Anthony Davis,” Cuban said, “but if we had secured four unprotected No. 1 draft picks, alongside Davis and Christie, the conversation around this trade would be different.”
Following the trade, the Los Angeles Lakers have become contenders for the championship title, while the Mavericks find themselves at risk of not qualifying for the playoffs. Their situation worsened when both Anthony Davis and later, Kyrie Irving suffered injuries.
Cuban, who maintains a minority stake in the Mavericks, refrained from commenting on whether he would have pursued a trade for Doncic at all. Drawing from personal experience, he shared a parallel from 2004 when he decided not to thwart point guard Steve Nash’s departure in free agency. Nash subsequently joined the Phoenix Suns on a five-year, $65 million contract and was honored with the NBA MVP award for his first two seasons.
Reflecting on the past, Cuban noted, “The good news is that we went to the Finals and won a championship. However, it was a different era with no social media, so the pressures weren’t the same. Mistakes will be made, and the current challenge for the Mavericks is a lack of outspoken figures who can effectively communicate within the organization.”
