Insider hints at discontent between Luka Doncic, Mavericks
The Mavericks made aggressive moves this summer. It might not be enough to appease their star.
On "The Hoop Collective" podcast, ESPN's Tim McMahon discussed the Dallas Mavericks, who made big changes this summer. They re-signed Kyrie Irving, added Grant Williams in a sign-and-trade and switched out Reggie Bullock and Christian Wood for Seth Curry and Richaun Holmes.
The Mavs also demoted Casey Smith, their head athletic trainer for the last two decades. Smith will no longer be on the Mavericks bench or travel with the team. According to McMahon, "There’s a combination of people being p-ssed and people being concerned within the Mavericks organization about that."
One of those people "p-ssed" or "concerned" is likely Dallas superstar Luka Doncic, who has spent a great deal of time with Smith since the Mavericks drafted him in 2018, perhaps more than any other person in the Mavericks organization. Smith was close enough to Doncic that he was on stage when Dallas announced Doncic's maximum rookie extension.
Scott Tomlin, the Mavericks' public relations man, has also been with Dallas for two decades. He's leaving the team this month to work for former Mavs star Dirk Nowitzki. Tomlin and Nowitzki are close, as are Doncic and Tomlin, but it's always suspicious when longtime employees depart.
On the court, there's been some strange decisions as well. Dallas coach Jason Kidd told reporters that one of the Mavericks' two first-round picks, either 19-year-old center Dereck Lively II or 21-year-old Olivier-Maxence "O-Max" Prosper "probably will be a starter." That's in an attempt to improve the Mavericks' 24th-ranked defense.
However, it's rare to see a rookie excel at defense in the NBA, particularly at center. Williams is good defensively, but has started just 58 games in his four-year career. With quality defenders Bullock and Dorian Finney-Smith gone, the Mavs may not have upgraded as much as they think.
The biggest issue for the Mavericks is the relationship between Doncic and Irving, who has periodically been a destructive presence in NBA locker rooms, whether it's trade demands, a refusal to get vaccinated, sharing antisemitic material or long absences for "personal reasons."
But Doncic is cautiously optimistic, saying, "I think it will be way better."
Of course, that implies it wasn't good before. With big changes in the staff and the roster, the Mavericks need to make sure their relationship with Doncic is still good.
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