Dallas Mavericks fans are still upset over the Luka Doncic trade and rightfully so. Doncic is a generational talent and a player who should’ve stayed with the Mavericks for his entire career.
Related: NBA Play-In 2025 preview: Dallas Mavericks vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Doncic is now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers and he has a real shot at winning an NBA championship this season. As for the Mavericks, they could be a contending team if their star players stay healthy.
TOP NEWS
Commissioner Adam Silver gives his opinion on trade
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently addressed the trade, acknowledging the frustration of Mavs fans while also expressing understanding of the Mavericks’ decision-making process.
“It’s been a rough time since they made the trade, there’s no question about it. A combination of Anthony Davis — my God — going down in the very first game he was playing for the Mavericks. Kyrie [Irving], then, with the season-ending injury.
“You know, I’m proud of that team. Obviously, they are still playing hard. They still have a chance to play in the playoffs tomorrow night. I get the fans’ passion, and I understand, again, why Dallas Mavericks fans are so upset.
“Personally, I am a fan of Luka Doncic. I think he’s a great young man. Let’s see how this turns out. I want him to be great. I want the Dallas Mavericks to be great.
“I’ve been in the league for a long time. It’s been remarkable, I think, how much interest there’s been in this trade.”
"I understand why Dallas Mavericks fans are so upset and I personally am a fan of Luka Doncic..
I want him to be great and I want the Dallas Mavericks to be great..
There's been so much interest in this trade and let's see how this turns out" ~ Adam Silver #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/J3XUkQqeIQ
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 17, 2025
Silver later addressed the rumors that the Mavericks’ new ownership is preparing to move the team out of Texas.
“The only place where I feel defensive on behalf of the Dallas Mavericks and new ownership there that there were some suggestions early on that the trade wasn’t done for basketball reasons.
“That, somehow, the new owner didn’t want to pay a maximum salary or was focused on… real-estate development or something else.
“The only thing I can say, and I feel very confident about this knowing Patrick Dumont, who is the governor of the team, and the people involved, they believed that they were making the best trade on behalf of the Dallas Mavericks. Whether that turns out to be true, again, only time will tell.
“I’ve known Nico for a long time, Nico Harrison. He was a longtime executive at Nike before he was at the Dallas Mavericks. Again, whether he made the right trade, he’s a really decent person. I know he’s trying to do the best he can to run that franchise.”
At this point in time, there’s nothing Mavs fans can do, the trade happened, and it is time to move on. The team has a chance to reach the playoffs this year and importantly, their future is very bright.
Any team in the league would be happy to have Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Klay Thompson on their roster. Time will tell who exactly won this trade, but for now, Mavericks fans should be focusing on the Play-In game tonight.
