Mavericks Vet Makes Major Free Agency Decision: Report

Following a 2024 playoff run that led them back to the NBA Finals for the first time in 13 years, the Dallas Mavericks' future looked pretty bright in 2024-25.

But Dallas general manager Nico Harrison shocked the world when he traded franchise centerpiece Luka Donic, already a five-time All-NBA First Teamer with the club at age 25, to the Los Angeles Lakers for a relatively muted return.

Doncic and big men Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris were shipped off to L.A. in exchange for oft-hurt 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis, who was 31 at the time, plus shooting guard Max Christie and a single future first round draft pick. The Lakers and Mavericks both rerouted 2025 second round selections to the Utah Jazz, as L.A. needed to include a third team to take on the contract of little-used second-year guard Jalen Hood-Schifino.

Bringing in Davis, still a terrific two-way player, for the much younger Doncic wasn't a terrible All-Star-for-All-Star haul if Harrison was truly unconvinced that Doncic was capable of repeating his 2024 success — the big issue was the returning draft equity. 

For comparison's sake, the Orlando Magic just had to surrender four first round picks, plus one first round pick swap, to acquire shooting guard Desmond Bane — who has never been an All-Star and gets hurt with frustrating frequency — from the Memphis Grizzlies.