The Dallas Mavericks thrived with Luka Doncic at the helm last season as he led them to their first NBA Finals appearance since Dirk Nowitzki accomplished the feat in 2011. Fans believed Luka was destined to bring another championship to Dallas. However, everything changed when he suffered an injury. The Mavericks then decided to trade him to the Los Angeles Lakers midway through the season.
Reports suggest that Mavs general manager Nico Harrison initiated talks with the Lakers about a Doncic-for-Anthony Davis trade a month before the deal was finalized. The official trade was completed just before the trade deadline. However, the Mavericks minority owner, Mark Cuban, had no prior knowledge of the decision.
NBA insider Marc Stein revealed that Cuban only learned about the potential trade when it was already too late. According to Stein, Cuban urged Harrison to back out of the deal. But, at that point, the agreement had already been settled with the Lakers through a verbal handshake.
“By the time Cuban found out about the Luka-for-AD trade, it was too late. 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,” Stein reported.
REPORT: Mark Cuban made a last-ditch effort to stop Nico Harrison from trading Luka Doncic, per @TheSteinLine
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 10, 2025
“By the time Cuban found out about the Luka-for-AD trade, it was too late. Dumont never approached for advice. Sources say Cuban urged Harrison not to go ahead with the… pic.twitter.com/H3wMQs6iXJ
Cuban’s devotion to Doncic had been evident for years. In 2020, when asked whether he would ever consider trading his franchise star, Cuban jokingly replied that he was more willing to divorce his wife than let go of Doncic.
Baron Davis Believes Lakers Can Contend For Championship After Landing Luka Doncic
With the blockbuster Luka Doncic’s trade, many believe the Lakers are now serious contenders for another NBA championship. Among those who see the Lakers as potential title favorites is former NBA star Baron Davis. Speaking on The Draymond Green Show, Davis shared the team’s newfound strength after pairing LeBron with one of the league’s most gifted offensive players.
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“You’ve got LeBron and Luka, you ain’t doing bad. You can be a contender if you put the right pieces in place,” Davis said.
If Luka makes his long-awaited Lakers debut on Monday, it will be the first time he and LeBron share the court as teammates. Lakers fans are eagerly waiting to see how the two superstars will complement each other’s game on the court.
Also Read: Dallas Mavericks Coach Makes A Shocking Move After Luka Doncic Trade
