More telling information surrounding the shocking trade of Luka Doncic rises to the surface with every passing day. Some news comes across as natural, while others are as surprising as the deal itself. The Mavericks initiated the trade of the five-time All-NBA First Team member despite no indication of frustrations between them. The latest information to come out is that Dallas had become a bit weary with Doncic’s health concerns. Trust issues were possibly brewing too, going by how the Slovenian star went about dealing with his fitness.
Advertisement
When it comes to injuries, Doncic certainly isn’t a player who deals with them to the same extent as the Philadelphia 76ers star, Joel Embiid. However, nagging injuries to his calf led him to seek the counsel of medical experts outside of the team setup.
NBA insider Marc Stein has revealed the team became irritated with Doncic seeking outside medical help, although the player himself was bearing the cost.
“With Doncic, meanwhile, one phrase you keep hearing, basically, is that the Mavericks are over him,” said Stein, before delving into the details.
“Dallas has likewise said to have cooled on its star’s insistence on hiring his own team of training experts — even though it was done at his own expense — to handle the bulk of his medical and nutritional needs separate from the club starting with the 2023-24 season,” added the insider, leaving the basketball world perplexed.
The Mavericks were reportedly “over” Luka Dončić, per @TheSteinLine
“With Dončić, meanwhile, one phrase you keep hearing, basically, is that the Mavericks are over him. Dallas has likewise said to have cooled on its star's insistence on hiring his own team of training experts —… pic.twitter.com/TD7sw242fg
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 3, 2025
This revelation has come as a surprise since no reports had surfaced before this indicating frustrations between the player and the team. On the court, things were going well. Doncic led the Mavs to their first Finals appearance in 13 years last season.
Doncic’s conditioning, it seems, was a concern that was brewing under the surface.
These concerns and doubts led the Mavericks to think twice about offering a potential super-max contract extension. And the front office, led by general manager Nico Harrison, opted to trade Luka.
Harrison believes the trade is a necessary step to win a championship
Harrison has attempted to explain the trade despite the outrage from fans. The Mavericks’ philosophy is that defense wins championships. That’s an area where Anthony Davis is certainly much better than Doncic.
However, the factors at play in the deal, including the age of the stars involved, leave room for doubts about whether this is the right decision for the Mavericks.
Doncic is only 25 years old, while Davis is 32. Harrison insisted that this trade is for the present and the future. Yet they traded a player who hasn’t reached his prime yet. There is no guarantee either that Davis will maintain his current level of play for the next five years.
Teams don’t trade a player as great as Doncic when they are 25. There is a high probability this will go down as one of, if not the worst trade in NBA history for the Mavericks. If it doesn’t lead to a championship victory that is.
