The Dallas Mavericks' decision to trade Luka Dončić to the Lakers a year ago now appears even more questionable. Despite being the Western Conference representative in the 2024 NBA Finals, the team is now among the league's top rebuilding projects.
Bleacher Report writer Bryan Toporek ranked the top 10 players traded at the deadline in years past, and Dončić was on top of the list. He averaged a league-high 33.9 points, 9.8 assists, and 9.2 rebounds per game in 2023-24, a feat unmatched in NBA history. Only Oscar Robertson has matched his career averages across his first seven seasons.
The Mavericks' secretive approach to the trade, negotiating exclusively with the Lakers, may have cost them. One NBA executive suggested they could have gotten the biggest haul in NBA history if they had opened up a bidding war. Instead, they couldn't secure both of the Lakers' tradable first-round picks.
ESPN's Tim MacMahon revealed that the Mavericks were motivated by Dončić's constant conditioning concerns. They traded him to avoid a supermax extension, which they seemingly had reservations about.
The trade still haunts the Mavericks, who are now dealing with Anthony Davis' fourth major injury since the trade. The team is rebuilding, and while they're starting to figure things out with Cooper Flagg as their new cornerstone, the Dončić trade will have a significant impact until they become competitive.
The Mavericks are back in action against the Chicago Bulls, and fans can watch the game on FanDuel Sports Network or stream it on NBA League Pass.
