Because the basketball world involves phrases with the Luka Doncic commerce, there’s new proof that the Slovenian star and the Mavericks had been doubtless headed for an unpleasant divorce.
With just a year and a half left on his contract, Doncic can take a look at free company in 2026, a risk that scared the Mavericks.
Whereas chatting with reporters on Sunday, Mavericks GM Nico Harrison stated the franchise wasn’t positive if Doncic wished to place pen to paper on a five-year, $345M extension they might have provided him this summer time. As such, they doubtlessly averted a disastrous state of affairs.
“There’s some distinctive issues about his contract that we had to concentrate to,” Harrison said of Doncic. “There’s different groups who had been loading up, and he was going to make his personal selections for the duration of whether or not he desires to be right here or not… We needed to take all that into consideration and I really feel we received out in entrance of what might have been a tumultuous summer time.”
When requested if Doncic or his representatives hinted at him leaving the Mavericks in 2026, Harrison stated, “No, in no way. Nothing verbally that will lead me to imagine that.”
Harrison confirmed that providing Doncic a Supermax “wasn’t a tough choice” however extra a case of being beholden to the All-Star guard.
“As soon as you set that on the market, they settle for or do not. At that time, you are on the clock,” Harrison stated of extending Doncic.
It is fascinating that Harrison used the phrase “tumultuous” whereas referring to a contract negotiation with Doncic this summer time. In keeping with a number of insiders, Doncic did not seek a trade and was caught off guard by the Mavericks’ choice. One wonders if one thing transpired behind the scenes that led to the Mavs abruptly delivery off their franchise star.
There’s much more to this story, particulars of which Doncic or Harrison will hopefully reveal sooner or later sooner or later.
