Dallas Mavericks’ $345 million reason to trade Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis explained
Luka Doncic's looming contract extension may have played a role in the Mavericks decision to trade him to the Lakers for Anthony Davis.
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Major financial implications involved in Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade
The Dallas Mavericks front office has pulled the trigger on one of the most stunning moves in NBA history. Nico Harrison and the Mavericks are all set to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis and compensation. But the number one question in the minds of NBA fans around the world is what forced the Mavericks to make this trade?
The details of the deal are still in the midst of being finalized, although the current trade will see the Utah Jazz acting as a facilitator between the Lakers and Mavericks. A number of reports have emerged surrounding the reasons behind Luka Doncic‘s trade. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Bobby Marks revealed that the potential financial impact of keeping Doncic may have prompted the trade.
There are major financial implications for Luka Doncic with this trade. He was in line to receive a five-year $345M contract this summer. Doncic is no longer super max eligible.
Bobby Marks via ESPN
According to Marks, retaining Doncic would have meant that the Mavericks would be in line to dish out a 5-year $345 million supermax contract extension, one of the largest deals in NBA history. With the way the future was lining up for the Mavericks, it seems like the Mavs front office was unwilling to dish out such a daunting deal to lock in their future.
There are major financial implications for Luka Doncic with this trade.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 2, 2025
He was in line to receive a five-year $345M contract this summer.
Doncic is no longer super max eligible.
Instead, the Mavericks now land Anthony Davis. The one-time champion is tied into the team’s future for the next few seasons, having signed a 3-year $175 million contract extension this past summer with the Lakers. Doncic, following the trade to the Lakers, will now be supermax ineligible due to the implications of this trade.
Dallas Mavericks front office was worried about Luka Doncic’s ‘fitness’
Luka Doncic has been one of the best players in the NBA ever since he was drafted. He was coming off a season where he led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals. Trading the core of their team still remains an unfathomable move to many. However, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reports that Doncic’s alleged ‘conditioning issues’ were a major reason for the Mavericks pulling the trigger.
The Mavs had major concerns about moving forward with Luka Doncic due to his constant conditioning issues and the looming commitment of another supermax contract extension this summer, sources told ESPN.
Tim MacMahon via X
The Mavs had major concerns about moving forward with Luka Doncic due to his constant conditioning issues and the looming commitment of another supermax contract extension this summer, sources told ESPN.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 2, 2025
The aforementioned conditioning issues have plagued Doncic for a while, as his fitness levels coming into the start of seasons have often been questioned. However, much like Shaquille O’Neal during his Lakers era, there has never been a question about the final impact that a superstar like Doncic brings to the court, no matter his fitness levels.
The Mavericks front office, however, believes that these issues had set a precedent. As such, it required the team to make a move that would help them consolidate for a championship-winning move in the present.
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Armaan Gupta
(387 Articles Published)