The NBA world was left in disbelief when the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. However, one of the most stunned individuals was former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who had no role in the decision-making process.
On Monday’s episode of Run It Back, Chandler Parsons, a former Mavericks player, revealed that he texted Mark Cuban shortly after the trade news broke. Cuban’s response was short but spoke volumes.
“I texted him, and I said, ‘I’m so confused.’ He wrote back, ‘That makes two of us.’”
This brief exchange encapsulates the shock and disbelief surrounding the move. Cuban, who was once the driving force behind the Mavericks’ success, was seemingly left out of the loop on one of the biggest trades in franchise history.
Cuban, who sold his majority stake in the Mavericks in December 2023 to casino mogul Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont, still retains a minority ownership role. However, his influence over basketball operations has significantly decreased.
Under Cuban’s ownership, Dallas had a longstanding philosophy of building around generational talent, as seen with Dirk Nowitzki’s 21-year tenure with the franchise. Doncic was widely seen as the next great Maverick, and Cuban had previously dismissed any possibility of trading him.
Cuban’s commitment to Doncic was unquestionable, which is why this trade came as a complete shock to him, just like it did to the rest of the NBA world.
According to reports, Mavericks GM Nico Harrison had been in discussions with Lakers GM Rob Pelinka for over three weeks, formulating a trade that prioritized defense over offense. Harrison, along with new team governor Patrick Dumont, chose to move forward with Anthony Davis as their franchise centerpiece, citing concerns over Doncic’s conditioning and commitment.
However, neither Doncic nor Cuban were consulted in the final stages of the deal. Doncic reportedly ignored calls and messages from Mavericks management after learning about the trade, further illustrating how blindsided he was by the decision.
Many Mavericks fans have expressed their frustration, believing that if Cuban were still in charge, Doncic would never have been traded. Some have even called for Cuban to reclaim a more active role in the organization to prevent future franchise-altering decisions.
Additionally, Parsons and other former Mavericks players, including Dirk Nowitzki, have remained silent or offered cryptic reactions, suggesting that this trade has left an irreversible impact on the team’s culture and identity.
While Mark Cuban may still be a Mavericks fan for life, it’s clear that the franchise has moved on without him. The decision to trade Luka Doncic signals a new era of decision-making in Dallas, one that Cuban has no control over.
For better or worse, the Mavericks are no longer Cuban’s team, and his shocked reaction serves as a reminder of how much things have changed in Dallas.
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