There are fans of the Dallas Mavericks who understandably want to correct the awful mistake Nico Harrison made on February 1, 2025, when Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. One report suggests the Slovenian superstar's status with the Lakers isn't as safe as originally thought, but Mavs fans need to calm down for a second.
Sam Amick and Dan Woike of The Athletic (subscription required) report the Lakers and Doncic are "on the clock" when it comes to building into a championship contender around him. Doncic wants a tier-one big man like Jalen Duren, and both aren't exactly on the same timeline as someone like 41-year-old LeBron James.
But for Mavs fans, there's still a timeline to build around Flagg and maybe get Doncic back when he becomes a UFA in 2028. That would be Dallas' real shot to correct one of their biggest franchise flops and bring Doncic back. Here's what Woike said about Doncic and the current Lakers' situation.
Sam Amick and I reported that the Lakers were “on the clock” with Dončić right after the end of last season, and nothing I’ve heard from my sources would change that thought process. Dončić is in the prime of his career and was traded away from a roster built to his specifications to compete for NBA titles. And if the Lakers can’t provide that, maybe he looks elsewhere (if anybody should understand that this is business, it’s Dončić).
Luka Doncic and the Lakers have a clear issue, but the Mavs' dream reunion is not set yet
For starters, this would be another nightmare for Doncic, who is still having issues getting the long-term deal he's wanted. After all, he was supposed to get paid for five years and $345 million if Harrison had kept him in Dallas, but of course, as we know, that didn't happen.
Interesting note by Woike as well, Doncic was traded by Dallas in the prime of his career for a GM who preached that defense won championships. Well, a year after that happened, Harrison was fired, Davis was traded, and Doncic had the last laugh.
Something Mavs fans have to remember is that as nonsensical as this trade was, Doncic looked different in 2025 than in 2018, his first year in the NBA. He looked like he could move better and looked more mobile. His hookah and beer habits made him look different. On the other hand, he was an MVP candidate in 2024 and led his team to the NBA Finals.
We should take this report seriously, don't get me wrong, but we should also be real about a dream reunion with Doncic. The Lakers are most likely still his team, but with James back for an unprecedented 24th NBA season, it sounds like L.A. may be the short-term experiment that Mavs fans always hoped for.
It's a start, but we shouldn't start dreaming just yet. There's a realistic timeline to possibly jump on Doncic to bring him back with Flagg, which would make for one of the killer duos in the NBA.
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