By Dorothy J. Gentry
Sports Editor
Reality set in throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex on Sunday; the day after the Dallas Mavericks made arguably the biggest and most shocking trade in NBA history.
Luka Doncic, it’s star and face-of-the-franchise since 2018, was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers literally overnight on Saturday night.
Sunday evening, Doncic, who was clearly blindsided, said his goodbye to Dallas on social media saying in part:
“I thought I’d spend my career here and I wanted so badly to bring you a championship. I am leaving a city that will always feel like a home away from home.”
Also on Sunday, Mavs GM Nico Harrison spoke briefly with the media in Cleveland before the team took on the Cavaliers for an afternoon game.
Harrison told reporters that he only spoke to the Lakers and never shopped Dončić to any other teams. He also added that Doncic never indicated that he wanted out or wouldn’t sign an extension moving forward.
Adding confusion to the whole situation, Harrison admitted that Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd wasn’t informed of the discussions with the Lakers before the trade happened. But despite the cries, moans, and disbelief of Mavs fans everywhere, Harrison contends he made the right choice for the future of the team.
“We definitely understand the magnitude of what just transpired. It’s definitely not lost on us.” Dallas will receive Lakers star forward Anthony Davis, guard Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick – all of which most have said is a significantly minimal return for a player of Doncic’s caliber.
The Mavs rank eighth in the Western Conference with a 26-23 record only months after a surprising run to the 2024 NBA Finals.
Stay tuned to Texas Metro News for this developing story.
