The Dallas Mavericks sent shockwaves throughout the NBA when they decided to trade arguably the best player in the game, Luka Doncic, to the Los Angeles Lakers.
That decision will go down as one of the most shocking and perhaps the worst in NBA history, but the long-term impact of the trade goes beyond what happens on the court.
Doncic has already taken the NBA by storm, but he has yet to hit his prime. He still has plenty of room to develop, and his potential to become a well-rounded NBA star is off the charts.
Before he was shipped off, Doncic was coming off a sensational campaign where he almost single-handedly led the Mavericks to the NBA finals.
While he could not get them over the line against the Boston Celtics, there is no denying that he wasn’t just the face of the Mavericks franchise – he was the franchise.
After his performances last season, any sensible organisation would have gobbled up the chance to build a fortress around him, but Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison didn’t get the memo.
In return for Davis, the Mavs got Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a future first-round pick from the Lakers, which was underwhelming at best, considering they were letting go of a generational talent.
That isn’t a dig at Davis. In his own right, he’s one of the best defenders of his generation. But the 32-year-old Chicago-born forward is past his prime and struggles with injuries.
As if letting go of a future Hall of Fame star wasn’t enough, the Mavs’ front office has handled the situation terribly, stooping as low as launching a scathing character assassination on the Slovenian.
Since cutting him loose, the Mavs have made derogatory comments about Doncic’s weight, fitness, and work ethic.
Needless to say, that has not gone down well with the fans. To them, those comments were nothing short of a desperate attempt to justify a ludicrous trade.
The Mavericks’ international appeal has taken a massive hit since trading Doncic.
The Slovenian speaks to fans in multiple languages, making him a popular figure and the Mavs one of the most followed teams around the world.
The Mavs expanded their global reach in 2023 by staging two preseason games in Abu Dhabi against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
They were becoming increasingly popular in the Middle East – a market which the NBA is eager to crack over the next few years.
However, if the Mavs head to the United Arab Emirates again, their popularity would be diminished without Doncic. This would also have a knock-on effect in the Arab betting industry.
The Mavs were heavily favoured by betting sites in the UAE when Doncic was leading the team, but his exit makes them significantly less appealing.
Doncic would have been a major incentive for sports bettors looking to place wagers on the Mavericks, but he is now out of the equation.
The morale of the Mavs fanbase has been at an all-time low since the shocking Doncic trade.
The supporters have been forced to deal with years of mismanagement, but the trade appears to be their breaking point, with many calling for Harrison’s head.
The 52-year-old was initially seen as an upgrade on former general manager Donnie Nelson, who was phased out for failing to properly build around Doncic. Under Harrison’s watch, the Mavs have lost Kristaps Porzingis for peanuts and Jalen Brunson for nothing.
As if losing Doncic wasn’t bad enough, the Mavs were dealt another devastating blow when Kyrie Irving tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), effectively ending his season.
