Dallas Mavericks Trade Deadline: What would Luka Doncic do?

The Dallas Mavericks are approaching the trade deadline with some reported interest in upgrading their roster. After getting to the playoffs last season, the Mavs want to build on that success and build a team that’s equipped to advance beyond the first round in 2021.

So it only makes sense the Dallas Mavericks are kicking the tires on a few players here as the NBA Trade Deadline approaches. But how they handle the next few days may be just as important as what they specifically do…

Luka Doncic should be deeply involved in any roster changes the Dallas Mavericks want to make.

In traditional profession sports franchises, the hierarchy and roles are fairly obvious and well defined: Players execute the orders, coaches give the orders, general managers find the players for the coaches, and owners pay the bills and hold everyone accountable.

But the NBA is not your traditional professional sports league, the Dallas Mavericks are not your traditional franchise, and Luka Doncic isn’t your typical star player. Things must be done differently here and the Mavs need to keep that in mind as they approach the NBA Trade Deadline.

The power dynamic in the NBA has heavily shifted to the players over the past decade. Superstars are no longer tethered to the franchise that drafted them and are in position to leave fairly early n their careers. Personal branding and endorsement deals make them less reliant on salary incentives from their present-day franchise.

If a superstar doesn’t want to stay, there’s not much a franchise can do once he becomes a free agent. We see it every year and it doesn’t look like it will stop anytime soon. Dirk Nowitzki was an anomaly and the Dallas Mavericks would be wise to keep that in mind.