NBA insider reveals Mavericks explored pairing Luka Doncic with 3-time All-Star who ousted Lakers

The Dallas Mavericks sent shockwaves around the league when they traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis.

The Mavericks acquired an all-world defender in exchange for their former franchise superstar, but they could've acquired a different one while holding onto Doncic. ESPN's Tim MacMahon recently shared that the Mavs and former Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert had a mutual interest in joining forces back in 2022 on an episode of "The Hoop Collective."

“You know who once was excited about the potential of playing with Luka, it’s pretty funny, Rudy Gobert," MacMahon revealed.

"When it was pretty obvious that he wanted to spend his whole career in Utah, but when it was pretty obvious that might not be the way that thing was going that last year, Dallas was at the top of his kind of silent list of preferred destinations. And there was a time when Mark Cuban and Nico Harrison were both very interested in that idea," MacMahon concluded.

Gobert ended up getting dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, the draft rights to Walker Kessler, and four first-round draft picks (2023, 2025, 2027, and 2029).

One of Doncic's most iconic moments in a Mavericks uniform came when he crossed up Gobert on a switch and buried a three-point dagger in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals during the Mavs' run to the 2024 NBA Finals.

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Doncic also had plenty of success with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II as his bigs, while Dallas successfully exploited Gobert's defensive weaknesses away from the basket.

Not acquiring Gobert probably worked out for the Mavs in the long run, but trading Doncic away is a decision that could haunt the franchise for years unless Davis helps the Mavs bring home a championship.

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