Mark Cuban, once the unquestioned face of major Mavericks moves, did not have a hand in the team trading superstar Luka Doncic early Sunday morning.
Cuban told WFAA in Dallas that he was not involved with the massive three-team trade that sent Doncic to the Lakers and Anthony Davis to the Mavericks.
Although he remains a minority owner of the team, Cuban has stepped back from day-to-day basketball operations since the Adelson family acquired majority control in late 2023.
The trade itself was driven primarily by Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, who reportedly made the call to shift the franchise’s direction, even though it appeared out of fear of Doncic potentially leaving the club in 2026, when his deal was set to expire if he opted out of a 2026-27 player option worth about $49 million, as he was and still is likely to do for a long-term deal.
Cuban — who once declared, “If I had to choose between my wife and keeping Luka on the Mavs, catch me at my lawyer’s office prepping for a divorce” — is no longer in a position to exercise that level of influence given his minority ownership standing in the organization.
Instead, the new majority ownership led by Patrick Dumont — and the rest of the Adelson family — has taken over the daily operations.
“I believe that defense wins championships,” Harrison told ESPN regarding his motivation to trade Doncic for Davis. “I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future.”
The Mavericks, who made the 2024 NBA Finals, believe they are built to win now and will pair Davis with Kyrie Irving while complemented by Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington and Dereck Lively, among others.
The Lakers, of course, will now have Doncic leading the way alongside LeBron James, his idol, who will effectively pass the torch to the Slovenian supernova.
Austin Reaves remains in Los Angeles as well, giving the Lakers three dynamic creators at the point of attack on offense.
This move is emblematic of a broader transition within the Mavericks organization.
Longtime fans might still associate Cuban with every major move, but the current structure confirms that the primary decision-making rests with Harrison and the Adelsons.
Cuban’s absence in the trade discussions underscores this change in leadership.
Despite his storied past with the franchise, Cuban’s role has become more symbolic, and he is no longer involved in high-level basketball decisions such as this Doncic deal.
Otherwise, Doncic would probably still be in Dallas.
