The Dallas Mavericks‘ shocking decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers has sent shockwaves throughout the NBA, and it appears that Doncic himself is still processing the move. According to Mavericks GM Nico Harrison, the 25-year-old superstar has not responded to his calls or messages since the trade was finalized.
In an interview with The Dallas Morning News, Harrison admitted that he tried to contact Doncic but had not received any response.
“My guess is he probably doesn’t want to talk to me.”
Harrison revealed that he had spoken to Doncic’s agent, but the former franchise player himself has remained silent. The Mavericks GM orchestrated the trade with Lakers GM Rob Pelinka over the last month, and Doncic seemingly had no idea that he was being moved.
ESPN’s Shams Charania confirmed this, reporting that Doncic was “still stunned” by the trade and had not expected the Mavericks to move on from him so abruptly.
The decision to part ways with Doncic, who led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals just seven months ago, is undoubtedly a tough pill to swallow. The 25-year-old has been the face of the franchise since being drafted in 2018, but Harrison and the Mavericks’ new ownership felt it was time to move on.
The trade brought back Anthony Davis, one of the league’s best defensive players, as well as young guard Max Christie and a future first-round pick. The Mavericks were reportedly concerned about Doncic’s conditioning issues, as he has struggled with injuries and fitness throughout his career.
Additionally, Doncic was eligible for a five-year, $345 million supermax extension this summer, which would have tied him to the Mavericks long-term. There were growing concerns within the organization about whether he would commit to that deal, leading them to act before losing leverage.
The next time Luka Doncic steps on an NBA court, he will be wearing purple and gold alongside LeBron James. While the Lakers have secured a superstar for their post-LeBron era, Doncic’s integration into the team will be an interesting storyline to watch.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks are moving forward with Anthony Davis, betting that his defense and pairing with Kyrie Irving will be enough to keep them competitive.
Regardless of how things play out, one thing is clear—Doncic is still coming to terms with this move, and his silence speaks volumes about his feelings toward the Mavericks.
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