Many theories have been offered up around the Dallas Mavericks’ franchise-altering decision.
The NBA is still feeling the after-effects of the Luka Doncic to Los Angeles Lakers trade, with the Dallas Mavericks moving on from their franchise star.
The past few weeks have been uncomfortable for the Mavericks, with the decision picked apart by fans and media alike.
Mavericks GM Nico Harrison initiated the trade, which also saw the team acquire Anthony Davis and Max Christie.
Those two players benefit the team defensively, but giving up a generational talent who is only 25 has caused controversy.
Nico Harrison has made clear he wants the Dallas Mavericks to win the championship above all else, and this move was an aggressive call to try and improve on last year.
The Mavericks made the finals last year, with Doncic inspiring their won. However, against the Boston Celtics they fell short, losing the series 4-1.
Veteran NBA reporter Marc Spears believes Doncic’s performances against Boston were the beginning of the end.
Speaking on Cedric Maxwell’s podcast, Spears praised the way Finals MVP Jaylen Brown guarded Doncic during the finals.
Spears said: “People talk about what he did offensively [but] that dude, he is the reason why Luka got traded.
“He shut him down in the finals, what he did to Luka in the finals, shutting him down, guarding him full court, making it unbearable offensively.
“[This] led Dallas to start questioning Luka as the leader of this team, questioning whether he was in shape or not.”
Doncic’s performances in the finals were also heavily criticized at the time by Brian Windhorst, and he noted how nobody in the Dallas organization came to the Slovenian’s defense.
Jaylen Brown, separately, has been praised by former teammate Jeff Teague as one of his favorite players to watch.
Marc Spears also spoke of his closeness to Mavs GM Nico Harrison, and offered his opinion that the full story behind the decision to trade Doncic is yet to come out.
While the Mavericks have been criticized for throwing shade at Doncic, Spears believes the team may even be protecting the player.
He explained: “I know Nico real well. He doesn’t just do stuff.
“I think there’s more to that story, that I think they are trying to be respectful and not go into the weeds.
“But now we’ll see how things go with Luka in LA, things will be much more magnified.”
After a slow start, Doncic put up his best performance yet for the Lakers in their win over the Nuggets. Next up is the first showdown between the Lakers and Mavericks since the trade.
