The Dallas Mavericks just fell to their third consecutive loss tonight as the returns of Josh Green, and Dorian Finney-Smith from lengthy absences didn’t help the team overcome the Atlanta Hawks. Luka Doncic had 30 points on good efficiency yet again, but the Mavericks’ defense got blown through the entire night as the Hawks put up 130 points.
Before the game, a report from ESPN claimed that Luka Doncic had begun pressuring the front office to make moves. Doncic had notoriously kept himself away from personnel decisions in the past, so saying he’s pushing the front office to upgrade the roster before the trade deadline was quite significant. However, Luka has denied the report.
Luka Dončić on the report of him asking the roster to be upgraded at the trade deadline: “That’s not true, I didn’t say nothing about that. I talk to Nico, I talk to Fin more than I used to but that’s just how I talk to them. Great communication that just stays between us.” pic.twitter.com/bx1vxPHIL8
— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) January 19, 2023
“That’s not true, I didn’t say nothing about that. I talk to Nico, I talk to Fin [Michael Finley] more than I used to but that’s just how I talk to them. Great communication that just stays between us.”
Doncic did admit he’s talking to Nico Harrison and Michael Finley more often this season, which does imply there are some issues Doncic has discussed with them. Whether that correlates to him pressuring them to make a move is something nobody can conclusively determine.
Should Luka Doncic Be More Aggressive With Pushing The Mavericks?
Doncic not participating in conversations around personnel prior to this season could be one of the reasons he’s doing it more often now. The Mavs didn’t re-sign Jalen Brunson, someone Luka clearly loved playing with. He also saw his best friend Boban Marjanovic included in the trade package for Christian Wood, a player that the Mavs were refusing to start until injuries beset their roster.
Player pressure can be a force for good when it encourages the team to make moves, and the team responds by finding the right move. However, player pressure leading to a panic trade can decimate a franchise’s future. It’s a thin line to balance, and the Mavs front office has their work cut out for them. They’re currently linked to Bojan Bogdanovic and Cam Reddish.
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