Luka Dončić trade: How Mark Cuban was edged out of Mavericks’ decision-making tree – The Athletic

The Dallas Mavericks’ president of basketball operations has been quite vocal about the team’s struggles over the past few seasons. However, despite Mark Cuban’s efforts to revive the franchise, he was surprisingly absent from the recent decision to trade away franchise player Luka Dončić.

In a shocking move on Tuesday, the Mavericks traded Dončić and a protected 2024 first-round pick to the Boston Celtics in exchange for All-Star guard Jason Tatum, forward Bob Williams, and the Celtics’ 2023 first-round pick. Given the European superstar’s massive popularity in Dallas and the incredible relationship he had with Cuban, many around the league were stunned by the move.

Cuban and Dončić had been outspokenly close, with the billionaire owner regularly hyping his talented player on and off the court. Just last year, Cuban rose to Dončić’s defense when the guard declined to shake hands with the Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler, claiming that Butler was simply jealous of Dončić’s talent.

However, despite this public display of support and friendship, it appears that Cuban was not involved in the decision to trade his beloved Dončić. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amico, Cuban has been edged out of the Mavericks’ decision-making tree in recent years, especially since the franchise’s failure to draft Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2015.

The Greek Freak was selected 15th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Mavericks picked up Latvian center Kristaps Porziņģis at No. 4. Since that disappointing day, Cuban has gradually stepped away from the Mavericks’ basketball decisions, focusing instead on his numerous business ventures and leaving the basketball operations to the team’s general manager, Nico Harrison, and newly hired draft analyst Michael Finley.

While it may be a bitter pill to swallow for Cuban, Dončić’s trade opens up a new chapter for the Mavericks. With a talented young player like Tatum at the helm, paired with the veteran leadership of Dirk Nowitzki and the creative freedom head coach Jason Kidd is sure to bring, the Mavericks are poised to become a formidable team in the Western Conference once again.