Many within the NBA community seem to think that Mavericks GM Nico Harrison made a significant error in judgment when he traded away the franchise’s star player, Luka Doncic.
Nevertheless, the organization has managed to rationalize the decision as sound.
As reported by ESPN, Harrison “had more doubts about Doncic than others in the organization — such as Cuban or Nowitzki — did.”
A key consideration for Harrison was Doncic’s upcoming supermax contract.
Set to become eligible for a five-year, $345 million extension in the summer of 2025, the Mavericks were uneasy about the commitment that such a deal would entail.
“They were terrified of a supermax commitment,” stated ESPN’s Tim MacMahon on The Hoop Collective.
Harrison elaborated to the Dallas Morning News, saying, “We really feel like we got ahead of what was going to be a tumultuous summer, with him being eligible for the supermax and also a year away from him being able to opt out of any contract.”
However, a more pressing issue for the Mavericks seemed to be Luka’s physical condition and weight management.
The organization, along with head coach Jason Kidd, has expressed concerns both publicly and privately about Doncic’s fitness and his weight fluctuations.
After missing six weeks due to a strained left calf, his fourth such injury in three years, Luka reportedly gained weight.
Moreover, it has recently been revealed that his 11-day absence in late November for a wrist injury was actually intended to “provide Doncic time to shed weight after he had ballooned into the high 260s,” as detailed by ESPN.
The proposed trade involving Doncic and Davis was originally expected to include multiple first-round picks and Dalton Knecht; however, according to Kirk Goldsberry, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka may have had reservations about the deal.
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