In an article for ESPN.com (Insider link), Bobby Marks examines what the other 28 NBA teams could hypothetically have offered the Mavericks for Luka Doncic, who was sent to the Lakers in February in arguably the most stunning trade in NBA history.
Marks’ exercise comes with a couple of caveats. The first is that a Doncic trade may have fallen apart had every team been able to make a bid for the superstar guard, which is why Dallas was so determined to keep its talks with Los Angeles quiet. The second is that the hypothetical offers are based on each team’s financial restrictions as of February 1, the day before the trade.
Which teams could have offered the Mavericks the most compelling combinations of win-now players and draft assets? According to Marks, the Cavaliers (Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, 2031 unprotected first-round pick) and Rockets (Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith, Reed Sheppard, unprotected first-round picks in 2025 and 2027 via Phoenix) could have put the best packages together for Doncic (Cleveland would have been required to take back Maxi Kleber as well for salary-matching purposes, Marks notes).
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- In a story that was released before the Nuggets fired Michael Malone, Zach Harper of The Athletic listed four other head coaches who could be on the hot seat, with Mike Budenholzer of the Suns considered the most likely to be dismissed.
- Confirming a report from BasketNews.com, Linas Kleiza said on his podcast (YouTube link) that Domantas Sabonis is unlikely to compete in this summer’s EuroBasket due to personal reasons (hat tip to EuroHoops.net). Kleiza, a former NBA player who is now general manager of the Lithuanian national team, also said that Jonas Valaniunas and Matas Buzelis are expected to compete in this year’s tournament.
- Georgia businessman Calvin Darden Jr. was recently sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for cheating former NBA star Dwight Howard out of $7MM in a phony scheme to purchase the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, reports Philip Marcelo of The Associated Press. Darden was also convicted of stealing $1MM from former NBA forward Chandler Parsons in a separate scam. Darden was found guilty in October of wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering charges.
Rockets say yes to that trade proposal all day every day. Even with all those players and picks, it still feels like an underpay
It’s like beating a dead horse. Everyone knows they could have received a much better offer than what they got from the Lakers. Their GM made one of the worse trades ever.
It was a stupid trade. Harrison said the basis of the trade was to win now. Their best shot to win now was keeping Luka but if you’re trying to trade Doncìc, Davis is still the best player you could get in return.
Reed Shepherd, Jabari Smith, Dillon Brooks and two picks? Two role players and three unknowns does not equal Anthony Davis. If I were a GM that would be the baseline for what I’d expect to receive in a trade for Davis. There’s nobody with star potential coming in.
Garland, Allen and picks is a bit more interesting but that’s doubling down on strengths the roster already had. You don’t need Garland if you already have Irving and Jarrett Allen is exactly the type of player that Lively will be at a fraction of the salary. Sure you could flip Garland and Allen for more but it’s hard to pull that off mid season.
The biggest caveat in this stupid exercise is ‘do the Mavs want that and do the other teams really want to blow up their roster?’. Next boring article please.
It still makes zero sense to me as a Mavs fan. Fire Nico
Still waiting for Chandler Parsons to get convicted for stealing $94.5 million from Memphis.
Jk, I honestly feel kind of bad for the dude. Between this scandal, and the car accident, he’s had a rough go of late..
Dwight Howard is not a HoFer
You’re right, not yet but in case you hadn’t read or heard about it Dwight Howard will be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame on September 6th, 2025.
D12 is definitely a deserving candidate.
1x NBA Champion
1x Olympic Gold Medalist
3x DPOY
8x All NBA
5x All Defense
5x Reb. Champ
2x BLK champ
Easy to pad stats and gain hand out awards because nobody was good in the second weakest era ever
It reverts in time to the 60’s in terms of basketball at it’s peak talent wise
Russel would destroy Howard
80s,90s,70s,00s,10s,50s,2020
80’s was probably the best time to be a fan
Davey, where are you? Easily the Warriors. Podz, Kuminga, Post, a second round pick and a drink bottle. Then pivot to Giannis for Looney and Hield. Forget matching salaries or even the new CBA….It’s happening.