The Dallas Mavericks could be plotting moves to possibly bring Luka Doncic back to the franchise. The Mavericks’ ownership realized it made a grave mistake of trading Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers after Nico Harrison last month.
According to Will Miller of The Smoking Cuban, Doncic has no obligation to return to Dallas, but it seems like the franchise might be interested in a reunion in a few years. Miller based his report on several things, which include the possibility of bringing back key people to the Mavericks with ties to Doncic.
“The Mavs could be putting together the proper infrastructure to make a Doncic return possible in the future, if nothing else. Dennis Lindsey, who helped construct Dallas’ 2024 NBA Finals squad and is now second in command in the Detroit Pistons‘ front office, has been rumored as a potential GM target for the Mavericks,” Miller wrote.
Another name is franchise legend Dirk Nowitzki, who was never a fan of the trade and even distanced himself from the Mavericks. Former majority owner Mark Cuban also seemed to have his influence back after Harrison’s exit.
Nevertheless, Doncic signed a three-year, $165 million extension with the Lakers this past summer. That meant the former Mavs superstar can’t enter free agency until 2028, at the earliest, when he can opt out of his contract.
Lindsey, Nowitzki Rumored for Dallas Return
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, a longtime Mavericks beat writer, reported last month that Mark Cuban is pushing for Dennis Lindsey’s return to Dallas. Lindsey was a senior advisor to the franchise before joining the Detroit Pistons as senior vice president of basketball operations in the summer of 2024.
Lindsey has ties to the Doncic camp because his agent Bill Duffy and business manager Lara Beth Seager were adamant in hiring him in 2023. He would help facilitate the roster, alongside Nico Harrison, that would make the 2024 NBA Finals.
Marc Stein of The Stein Line, on the other hand, reported around the same time as MacMahon that the Mavericks was looking to repair its relationship with Dirk Nowitzki.
It was fractured by the Luka Doncic trade because Nowitzki wasn’t just close to the Slovenian superstar, but the deal also broke the trust that the fans had with the franchise.
Doncic Quietly Moving on From Mavs
The Lakers welcomed the Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena last Friday for their first matchup of the season. Luka Doncic dropped 35 points, five rebounds and 11 assists as the Lakers handed Dallas a 129-119 defeat.
Doncic told reporters after the game that it was a bit easier to face his former team this time around. He wasn’t as emotional as he was when he first battled the Mavericks following the trade, while his first game back in Dallas was filled with tears.
“I would say it’s a little bit easier now. But games against Dallas will always have a special meaning for me. I mean, I still have a lot of friends there, so it’s fun, but it’s always special. As I said, it will always be special for me,” Doncic said, via Basket News.
One piece of good news for Dallas fans is Doncic remains loyal to the Cowboys, cheering them on after they beat the Los Angeles Rams in late October.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Mavericks Could Be Trying to Bring Luka Doncic Back to Dallas: Report appeared first on Heavy Sports.