Former majority owner Mark Cuban reportedly pleaded with Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison not to trade superstar Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis—but his intervention came too late, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
Stein revealed that Cuban, who once called the shots at Dallas before selling his 73% stake in November 2023, urged Harrison to reconsider the deal.
“By the time Cuban found out about the Luka-for-AD trade, it was too late,” Stein wrote. “[Patrick] Dumont never approached him for advice. Sources say Cuban urged Harrison not to go ahead with the swap… only to find out that the deal had already been sealed with the Lakers by a verbal handshake.”
Cuban, who had sold his stake with the expectation of remaining involved in the club’s major decisions, now finds himself increasingly sidelined. Stein noted that the NBA reportedly forbade Cuban this season from taking his customary seat behind the Mavericks’ bench at road games.
“He did not have the say-so over basketball matters that he anticipated when the sale was agreed with the Adelson and Dumont families,” Stein added.
The trade of Dončić, one of the most shocking moves in NBA history, has left fans reeling. While acquiring Anthony Davis, a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, might bolster the Mavericks’ frontcourt, trading away the face of the franchise—who led the team to the NBA Finals just last season—has sparked widespread frustration among supporters.
As the Mavericks navigate the fallout from the controversial deal, both Cuban and Dallas fans remain in disbelief over the decision. Whether the trade will ultimately benefit the Mavericks remains uncertain, but for now, the team has overlooked the superfan and former owner’s advice—a decision that may continue to haunt the franchise.
