Mark Cuban, the former majority owner of Dallas Mavericks, admitted that he made the same mistake when selling the Dallas Mavericks in the Luka Donsic trade.
Although it happened last season, Luka Donsic’s trade is one of the most infamous moments in NBA history. That’s not just because of who the Dallas Mavericks traded, but how they did their business.
Donsic led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024. He averaged 32-9-8 in the Western Conference Finals and scored Rudy Goat in Game 2.
The deal came out of nowhere. Even a handful of owners, Mark Cuba, was blind. DALLAS’s strategy to seek Doncic’s deal means that even other NBA teams are unaware that he is available, and the Cuban admitted to making the same error when selling the team in 2023.
The truly awful details of the Don Chic trade were that general manager Nico Harrison did not explore his market. He informed Rob Perinka and the Los Angeles Lakers of his availability and after Perinka picked up his chin from the floor, he somehow convinced Harrison that the trade would need to remain secret.
That is, by the time trade news was removed, the consensus from the NBA teams offered more than the Lakers had given up.
| Los Angeles Lakers will receive it | Dallas Mavericks receive | The Utah Jazz receives |
| Luka Donsic | Anthony Davis | Jalen Hood Schifino |
| Maxi adhesive | Max Christie | 2025 Round 2 Picks (LA Clippers, Via Lakers) |
| Markieff Morris | 2029 First Round Pick (from the Lakers) | 2025 2nd round pick (from Mavericks |
| $55,000 (from Jazz) | $55,000 (from Jazz) |
Cuba was not involved in the Don Chic trade. In 2023, he sold a majority stake in the team and currently owns only 27% of MAV. He no longer manages basketball management or daily decision-making.
However, he recently said on the DLLS Mavericks podcast that Mavericks made the same mistake while trading Doncic. “I don’t regret selling my team. I regret how I did it,” Cuba revealed. “We’d put it out to bid.”
Dallas did not shop for Don Sic and Cuban made the same error in his Mavericks sales. Different owners may have given Cuban a decision-making role on the team or allowed him to keep a larger stake. It is certainly unlikely that they traded the talent of Donsic’s generation.
Cuba came out in favor of Harrison after the trade. He shared his past experiences of trading two future MVP Steve Nash with the Phoenix Suns while running the team. Perhaps this is why Cubans have sympathy for Harrison.
The business is complicated and Cuba made mistakes when running the Mavericks. However, his relationship with Harrison behind the closed door was hampered by Don Sic’s deal.
The public support and sympathy that Cuban has expressed for Harrison may not represent their private relationship. He was asked if he would meet Harrison. His reaction? “no”.
Harrison called Cuba before the trade was announced, but not before it was agreed. He revealed his reaction to the April Steven A. Smith Show news.
When he received a call from Harrison, Cuba replied, “You’re asking me, right? This isn’t over.” Harrison said, “No, that’s over.”
There’s nothing to talk about yet. Cuba doesn’t regret selling the team, but it appears he regrets who gave him the keys. They traded the city’s beloved superstars just two years after its sale.
There is hope for the franchise with Cooper Flag, the Cubans’ high hopes, but the sourness in the mouths of Dallas fans remains.