The NBA world is still recovering from the shock of the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks. The deal has been endlessly criticized and created one of the biggest social media frenzies in recent NBA history.
Dallas general manager Nico Harrison had even reportedly received death threats and required around-the-clock security at his home.
The front office now admits they hadn’t expected such outrage from the fans, with Mavericks CEO Rick Welts claiming he had never witnessed such a thing in his 47 years in the league.
Dallas Mavericks CEO Rick Welts Admits He Underestimated Reaction to Crazy Luka Dončić Trade
Dallas didn’t just trade a player—it traded its identity and its long-term potential to capitalize on the current and quickly closing championship window with Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson. Dončić had been the face of the Mavericks since he arrived in the league in 2018. There weren’t even rumors brewing, making the shock that much more painful for Mavericks fans.
Welts recently addressed fans’ reaction in an interview with The Dallas Morning News and said he had never seen such a thing in his 47-year stint in the NBA. He, however, defended the decision, claiming they were trying to do the right thing.
“I thought I’d seen everything in my 47 years in the NBA, but clearly this was different,” Welts said. “I think a lot of people of good intent tried to do the right thing.
“I probably underestimated the reaction. I think we’ve done the best we can, basically, with the staff and trying to do the right thing with everybody who touches the Mavericks.”
Welts acknowledged the sentiments attached to the Slovenian and assured fans that their future was still bright.
“It’s incredibly emotional, an incredibly difficult time for so many people. But I still believe we’re going to come out on the other side with a future that’s incredibly bright. That’s kind of my glass-half-full approach there.”
Even after the surprise has faded, dealing one of the league’s most valuable players for a star and a single first-round pick remains one of the most puzzling moves in league history.
Will the Mavericks Regret This Trade?
One might assume the Mavericks already regret this trade, as Davis is currently sidelined indefinitely after playing just one game for the team. Whether Davis returns before the end of the season is unclear, but for a Mavericks team that’s currently struggling to remain in the play-in picture, the win-now motivations of the trade feel particularly short-sighted.
Dončić isn’t off to a fiery start in Los Angeles so far himself, but that could change as his chemistry grows and he continues to recover from a calf injury. Availability is the key factor here, but there’s little doubt about Dončić becoming a seismic piece of the offense in the second half of the season.
Despite Harrison’s comments that this was a move for Dallas to win now, most people are still confused about why this trade occurred. The shocking deal doesn’t project to age well, either, given Davis’ age and durability concerns. Perhaps the Mavericks are still confident in their process, but that won’t stop everyone else from scratching their heads about this trade.
