Apr 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie (00) and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Mavericks CEO reveals initial reaction to Luka Doncic-Lakers trade

Originally posted on Dallas Mavericks on SI
By Austin Veazey | Last updated May 29, 2025 7:00 AM ET

It has been nearly four months since the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Yet still, hardly anyone can believe the Mavericks would make such a trade, especially to only get Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and one first-round pick in return.

Everybody in the Mavericks organization was stunned by the deal except for the powers behind the scenes aka Nico Harrison. When he first brought the idea up to team governor Patrick Dumont, he chuckled at the notion before eventually signing on. The players were blindsided and upset, the fans were irate, and the coaches had to develop an entire new system overnight since most of it revolved around Doncic.

In a conversation for the Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything, Mavericks CEO Rick Welts revealed when he learned of the trade and his initial reaction.

"Another revelation occurred when Welts was asked about the night of the Doncic trade, with the news getting tweeted at 11:12 p.m. Central, but the trade not getting finalized by the NBA until well after midnight.

"Welts said he didn’t know the trade was coming until Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont phoned him about 45 minutes before the news broke. Welts recounted the conversation:

“'Hey, Rick, we’re going to make a trade.'

“'Oh, OK, great. What are we doing?'

“'We’re going to trade Luka to the Lakers.'

"Added Welts with a chuckle: “'I’m like, "Who is this? Like, who is this, really?"'"

Welts also said that trade was extremely stressful for him.

“'My first 30 days in Dallas were awesome,' he said Wednesday. 'The next 100, not so much.'”

Winning the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery has been big for business and the morale of the organization, as Welts said they generated more than $7 million in season ticket sales in the days after the Lottery. Cooper Flagg represents hope and a future, something the Mavericks didn't have a lot of after the abysmal trade.

This article first appeared on Dallas Mavericks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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