Dallas Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont didn’t mince words when addressing the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Speaking at a conference in Texas, Dumont made it clear that the Mavericks were looking at the bigger picture when making the move.
“Tough decisions are never easy,” Dumont stated. “Part of leadership is looking at risk, all the factors in a decision, being willing to act at that time, and look to the long term, not only thinking about the short term and how it may be received immediately. Think about the long-term benefits and what it may allow you to achieve if given all the right considerations.”
The trade sent shockwaves through the league, and Dumont acknowledged the weight of the decision.
“We had to decide how to get better. What can we do to improve our team?” Dumont continued. “We looked at our trajectory during the season and realized that we did not get better… This was a decision about the future. If you look at our roster today and who we have, we feel like we positioned ourselves to be incredibly competitive against the best teams in the NBA.”
He pointed to the team’s new-look lineup as a sign of optimism.
“If you’re a fan of basketball, you have Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Anthony Davis, and either Daniel Gafford or Dereck Lively as your starting five,” Dumont said. “That’s going to put fear into a lot of teams if we can get going.”
Inside the Fallout
But not everyone is buying what Dumont is selling.
A well-placed Mavericks source, who heard Dumont’s remarks, didn’t hold back.
“They really think we are all stupid,” the source told me over the phone.
“We watch the games too. It just blows me away that people are actually like this. He averaged 41 minutes a game in the playoffs last season. Played 900 minutes in total. He averaged basically two steals a game. But didn’t play any defense though. I understand why Luka was frustrated as he was. Besides having Kyrie, they weren’t going to match up against Boston well. So you make the moves they did in the offseason and try again. You get the second-best shooter of all time in Klay to add to the offense to a team that definitely could’ve contended in the West again.”
The source continued, pointing out Doncic’s impact beyond the court.
“He basically was what Dirk was to the fanbase, but to the newer generation of Mavs fans as well. He made an impact off the floor and in the community in Dallas. Sure, make this trade and get better, but it leaves so many more unanswered questions. Why not get more draft picks? Why not try and get Austin Reaves or Rui also? Instead, you blindside a top-three player in the league and alienate your fan base and end up free-falling in the standings. Sure, no one could’ve predicted all the injuries. This was just a really strange move to make.”
Playoff Hopes in Jeopardy
Currently sitting in tenth place in the Western Conference with a 33-34 record, the Mavericks are 2-8 in their last ten games. The team has been ravaged by injuries, with over half the roster dealing with significant setbacks. That includes Kyrie Irving, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury earlier this month.
With their backs against the wall, the Mavericks have been forced to mix and match lineups. Despite the adversity, Klay Thompson remains focused on finishing the season strong.
Klay Thompson’s Mindset
“It’s just another opportunity to show what you can do,” Thompson said earlier this week.
“That’s probably the toughest part is not feeling sorry for yourself and realizing we have a job to do. This is the best job. It’s great, honestly.”
The Bigger Question: Where Do the Mavs Go From Here?
As the dust settles, the real question remains: What’s next for the Dallas Mavericks? Fans are still searching for answers while the team struggles to regain its footing. Dumont remains steadfast in his belief that this was a forward-thinking move, but only time will tell if the gamble pays off—or if Dallas just dealt away its future for uncertainty.
