Why The Mavericks General Manager Made An All-Time Blunder

In one of the most shocking moments in NBA history, the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round pick in a move that blindsided players, personnel and fans alike.

If every NBA player were put into a fantasy draft, the first two picks would probably be Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama. Doncic has a very good argument for the third spot.

Doncic, in the midst of his seventh NBA season, has been a first-team All-Pro every year aside from his rookie season. He has been a part of multiple iconic moments in Mavs history, including leading the franchise to an appearance in the NBA Finals just last season. He was the face of the franchise, and will surely etch his name into the Hall of Fame one day. And he is only 25 years old.

That is why this trade will be seen as an all-time blunder, with Nico Harrison’s name guaranteed to eternally live in infamy.

Harrison told the Dallas Morning News that this trade “positioned [the Mavericks] to win now and also win in the future.” It remains to be seen whether the trade does benefit the Mavericks this season.

Davis, who expressed a desire to play power forward instead of center, should pair nicely with Daniel Gafford and form a strong defensive frontcourt. Spacing could be an issue, but they have one of the greatest ball-handlers and space-creators of all time in Kyrie Irving.

The bulk of the roster has plenty of playoff experience after their finals run last season. The vaunted West remains the superior conference, but if the new parts gel quickly, the Mavericks could very well make a deep playoff run.

But Irving will turn 33 this year. Davis will turn 32. The Mavericks traded away a generational talent and received a mere one first-rounder. Doncic will only be nearing his thirties by the time Irving and Davis begin to decline.

And it’s not exactly like the Mavericks were previously stacked with assets after deadline deals for Gafford and P.J. Washington last season, two players acquired to better fit Doncic’s playstyle.

Unless his weight is truly a problem and his body breaks down, there is absolutely no way trading Doncic improved Dallas in the long term.

Another peculiar aspect of the trade is the lack of a bidding war for a top-three asset in the NBA.

The Mavericks could have, and probably should have, gotten a much bigger haul in return for Doncic. If they had publicly shopped him, multiple franchises would have been banging at the door willing to mortgage their whole future for Doncic to play in their uniform.

But Harrison reportedly only reached out to the Los Angeles Lakers, with no other general manager even being aware that Doncic was available for trade, much less having an opportunity to trade him.

Even the general manager of the third team in the trade, Danny Ainge of the Utah Jazz, had no idea Doncic and Davis were included until 30 minutes prior to the public announcement.

If Harrison was dead set on trading Doncic, he could have gotten a treasure trove’s worth of first rounders, arming Dallas with picks for the next half-decade. He could have gotten a rising star or a few young players to add some much needed depth. But instead, the centerpiece for trading away a generational talent was an aging star to pair with another aging star.

Harrison better hope his newly assembled core can bring Dallas a championship, because that will be the only way the city of Dallas will ever forgive him for trading away their franchise icon.

Alex Perez is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email app5877@psu.edu.