Luka Doncic's 'Ballooning' Weight Played Major Role in Blockbuster Trade

Before the Dallas Mavericks pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade sending Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, the team tried to address a growing "frustration" over the star player's weight and conditioning, a new report reveals.

The Mavericks shipped Doncic to the Lakers in a deal that was reported late on Saturday, getting Anthony Davis in a mega-deal that also included the Utah Jazz. ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported that the Mavericks had been growing increasingly frustrated with Doncic's lack of commitment to conditioning.

"The Mavericks were motivated to move Doncic because of his constant conditioning concerns, sources told MacMahon," an ESPN report noted. "There had been significant frustration within the organization about Doncic's lack of discipline regarding his diet and conditioning, which team sources considered a major factor in his injury issues."

The report noted that Doncic was in relatively good shape when he showed up to training camp before this season, but "his weight ballooned to the high 260s early this season." That gave way to durability concerns, with Doncic missing five games in late November with a sprained wrist along with time for conditioning.