Look away, Mavs fans, it’s time to talk about that Luka Doncic trade for the 16, 467th time. It has been 14 months since arguably the most seismic trade in sports history.
Some were doomscrolling until they couldn’t believe their eyes; others woke and had to rub their eyes 30 times to make sure they were seeing correctly; some even contemplated if they were still living real life.
Doncic departed to one of the world’s most fabled organizations in one of the most bizarre ways imaginable. It sometimes still doesn’t make sense.
As much as Dallas fans have tried to put that day behind them, the topic seemingly re-emerges every other day.
Doncic is having a career-year with the Los Angeles Lakers and has the franchise well in position to make a lengthy postseason run, but there is still more information dropping on his unceremonious Mavericks exit.
Luka Doncic was most likely pushed out by one person, according to an insider
As soon as it happened, many could only ponder why.
Why would a franchise give up on a 25-year-old generational talent?
Was there something wrong about him that no one else knew about?
Was Shams Charania just hacked or something?
In the months following the trade, more insight seeped out as to why Dallas opted to move Doncic so abruptly. There was plenty of discourse regarding Doncic’s allegedly poor conditioning habits and lack of defense. Many began speculating whose call it was to move Doncic, GM Nico Harrison or someone else?
GettyDALLAS, TEXAS – APRIL 09: General Manager Nico Harrison of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center on April 09, 2025. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
In a recent episode of the “Hoop Collective” podcast, NBA insider Tim MacMahon, who covered the Mavericks during Doncic’s time with the franchise, revealed his thoughts on Dallas’ ownership change and the lead-up to the Doncic trade.
He only mentioned one member of the Mavericks’ organization when discussing the seismic trade that sent Doncic to the Lakers.
“I have reported that [Dallas head coach Jason Kidd] was absolutely frustrated with Luka Doncic,” MacMahon said. “I cannot sit here and tell you straight up that I know for a fact that JKidd was part of pushing Luka out the door. I damn sure suspect it, I have written as much, I have said as much. I can’t tell you that for a fact.”
How should Mavs fans feel about Kidd now?
Kidd has been the team’s bench boss since the 2021 season.
Back then, the Mavericks were seen as a promising riser. Doncic was firmly entrenched as the face of the franchise — and already one of the most dominant forces in basketball — and Dallas was only expected to continue moving quickly toward contender status.
The team was coming off a seven-game first round playoff series against the Kawhi Leonard and Paul George led Los Angeles Clippers. Doncic was dazzling throughout the series despite his team ultimately falling short.
There weren’t any reports at the time concerning Doncic’s relationship with Kidd, certainly nothing about the Mavericks growing irritated with their young star in any way. All that happened abruptly and only after the trade to the Lakers had been made, though questions about Doncic’s conditioning arose lightly from time-to-time among fans and media
The only thing Mavericks fans can do now is focus on the future. Rookie sensation Cooper Flagg has been as good as advertised. Dallas will once again be in the lottery and can potentially add another future star in this year’s draft to go along with Flagg.
The franchise is still holding onto Kyrie Irving, who is still out with a torn ACL he suffered over a year ago.
Perhaps the Mavericks choose to move him, or they could see Irving as the ideal guard complement to Flagg, a versatile forward.
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