The Dallas Mavericks took a proactive approach to avoid what could have been a “tumultuous summer” of contract negotiations with Luka Doncic, according to general manager Nico Harrison in an interview with Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News.
“We really feel like we got ahead of what was going to be a tumultuous summer,” Harrison explained, referencing Doncic’s eligibility for a five-year, $345 million supermax extension and the looming possibility of him opting out of his current contract.
“We know teams, they’ve had it out there, teams have been loading up to try to sign him once that comes available.”
The decision to trade Doncic, one of the league’s brightest stars, to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis came after months of internal deliberation.
The Mavericks reportedly hesitated to offer the player the supermax due to ongoing concerns about his conditioning, which had been a point of criticism throughout recent seasons.
While Harrison acknowledged reaching out to Doncic via text and voicemail, he admitted that they had not yet spoken directly since the trade.
Reports also surfaced that Dallas explored other trade possibilities beyond the Lakers before finalizing the blockbuster deal.
As a result of the trade, Doncic is no longer eligible for the supermax contract, a development that significantly alters his future earning potential.
Nico Harrison On Trading Luka Doncic: Mavs Got Ahead Of Potential 'Tumultuous Summer' https://t.co/NyHEnK8AQB
— RealGM (@RealGM) February 2, 2025
