Feb 4, 2025; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic is introduced at UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Ex-Warriors GM's Explanation of Controversial Luka Doncic Trade

Originally posted on Golden State Warriors on SI
By Farbod Esnaashari | Last updated Feb 7, 2025 3:30 PM ET

It's been roughly a week since Luka Doncic was traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers and despite time passing by, it still remains one of the most controversial trades in NBA history.

People still can't seem to wrap their heads around why the Dallas Mavericks would ever want to trade a 25-year-old MVP candidate who just led his team to the NBA Finals, but they did.

During a broadcast of NBA on ESPN, former Warriors GM Bob Myers tried to give some level of possible explanation.

"They don't think he can get them where they want to go."

Bob Myers on why the Mavs were "frustrated" with Luka Doncic pic.twitter.com/OTXi9a40Vb
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 6, 2025

"They don't think he can get them where they want to go," Myers said. "That doesn't mean they're right, but that's why they did it. They know him better than we do. But they looked at him and said $350 million, and I know - I'm not saying this, this is what they're saying - I don't believe he can win us a championship."

The most telling thing to Myers is the fact that ownership signed off on the trade, on top of Nico Harrison. Additionally, Myers doesn't believe that Jason Kidd knew absolutely nothing about the deal, despite what Mavericks GM Nico Harrison said.

"Not only Nico, the ownership weighed in, Jason Kidd... has an idea of what's going on, he's the coach. Of the powers that be, they looked at each other and said we don't think he can get us there," Myers said.

While the Dallas Mavericks claim that conditioning was the biggest issue with Luka Doncic, it can't be the biggest issue for a 25-year-old. In all honesty, it probably just boils down to the fact that they didn't like being around him anymore.

This article first appeared on Golden State Warriors on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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