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The NBA Playoffs are officially underway after a full slate of games on Saturday. The quest for the next NBA Champion has begun.
In what has been called the craziest trade in NBA history, the Dallas Mavericks traded their superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a future draft pick. Since then, the situation has grown increasingly messy, with GM Nico Harrison frequently coming under fire for how he's handled things—and for how Doncic has been treated in the process.
Former full-time owner Mark Cuban, who shared a close bond with Doncic, didn’t hold back after the trade. He gave his honest opinion on the deal shortly after it was finalized.
“If the Mavs are going to trade Luka, that’s one thing—just get a better deal. No disrespect to Anthony Davis… If we had gotten four unprotected first-round picks, along with Anthony Davis and Max Christie, this would be a different conversation,” Cuban said.
Harrison has repeatedly stated that the trade was motivated by a belief in the old adage: defense wins championships. While that may hold some truth, the Mavericks allowed the Grizzlies to score 120 points in a loss on Friday. Had they won, they would be facing the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
After the game, players attended their postgame press conferences. Klay Thompson was asked whether he would have made a different decision had he known Doncic would be traded. Meanwhile, PJ Washington was asked about the team’s strictly defensive mindset and seemed to take a jab at Doncic.
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“We didn’t win last year, it’s not like we won the Finals,” Washington said.
That sure sounded like a shot at his former teammate—or perhaps it was just raw frustration after a tough loss with playoff implications on the line. Regardless, Doncic now has a real shot at a championship this season—while the Mavericks, no matter their mindset, are staying home.
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