The trade of Luka Dončić continues to impact the Dallas Mavericks. Fans of the Mavericks are still in disbelief as they watch Dončić’s excellent performances, now with another team. They are astonished that their team traded a young superstar, especially as the return for him has not been successful. Injuries have hurt the Mavericks, and comments from general manager Nico Harrison and new team owner Patrick Dumont haven’t helped ease the disappointment of Mavericks fans.
Almost two months after this major trade, there is still no clear reason why the Mavericks traded Dončić for Anthony Davis, who is older and more prone to injury, along with Max Christie and a future first-round draft pick. The trade was questionable when it happened, and it seems even worse now. Dončić’s brilliance has helped his new team rise in the Western Conference, while the Mavericks have suffered from injuries and might miss the playoffs after reaching the NBA Finals just last season. This rapid decline is one of the quickest in recent NBA history and will likely take a long time to recover from.
Many people outside the Mavericks organization are confused by this trade, including former majority owner Mark Cuban. Cuban, now a minority owner, discussed the trade on the ‘Your Mom’s House’ podcast. He indicated that if he were still in charge, the trade would not have occurred.
Cuban mentioned he no longer controls basketball decisions, which is evident given the Mavericks’ current situation. He implied that even as a minority owner, his opinions are not valued by the new ownership.
Cuban stated that majority owner Patrick Dumont trusts Nico Harrison’s decisions, which is Dumont’s prerogative. He acknowledged the team’s Finals appearance but emphasized it was Dumont’s decision. Cuban now sees himself primarily as a fan. He explained that initially, after selling the team, he was supposed to have less influence, but over time, the phrase became ‘In Nico we trust,’ leading to the current situation.
Cuban recounted finding out about the trade while at a conference in Florida. He received a text from general manager Harrison which at first he thought was a request for his opinion. He quickly realized it was an announcement of the completed trade. Cuban told Harrison he disagreed with the trade for several reasons, but it was not his decision to make.
When Cuban initially sold his majority stake, reports suggested he would maintain control over basketball decisions. However, the official press release from the Mavericks announcing the sale, including a statement from Dumont, made no mention of this. The Dončić trade clearly signaled that Cuban was no longer in control.
Cuban said he was as surprised as everyone else by the trade. He described it as “brutal” and “painful,” comparing it to grieving a loss. However, he also joked about feeling better when looking at his bank account after the sale.
While Cuban distances himself from the trade, some of his past decisions as majority owner contributed to the circumstances leading to Dončić’s trade. He hired Harrison as general manager and sold his majority stake to Dumont and Miriam Adelson, reportedly hoping for financial resources to build a new arena with a casino.
Despite Cuban’s desire to appear uninvolved and perhaps betrayed, he played a role in the Mavericks’ current state, whether intentionally or not. The key difference between Cuban and disappointed Mavericks fans is that Cuban received $3.5 billion. While he benefits financially, fans of the team, who value loyalty as symbolized by Dirk Nowitzki’s statue, are now questioning their support for the Mavericks.
Jasper Hawthorne