Odd trades have been in the Dallas Mavericks’ DNA. And this February wasn’t the only one. They enjoy their little spotlight from time to time. While ‘Nico’ hate fails to calm down, and even the former GM Mark Cuban left no step unturned to take a dig at the Dallas front office, little did we discuss his past actions. While Luka Doncic was still making himself at home, Jalen Brunson was making a noise among the Mavs nation. But then, the former majority owner, Mark Cuban, had other plans. Some blame the ex-GM Donnie Nelson for the strange move, but it was truly Cuban’s brainchild.
So, 2022 was truly an interesting year for the Mavericks. Doncic was already taking center stage. He always aimed for the stars without a second thought. But at the same time, Kristaps Porzingis and Brunson were doing well for the team. However, KP’s consistent injuries and unavailability gave the front office enough reasons to trade him to the Washington Wizards. But Jalen?
On The Hoop Collective podcast, Tim MacMahon talked about his new book, The Wonder Boy, that touches upon the life of Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. There, he unveiled the real reason behind Brunson’s exit. “It wasn’t a Donnie Nelson thing. It wasn’t a Nico Harrison thing. Mark Cuban was the one running basketball operations then. This was Mark Cuban,” MacMahon said while talking about the Jalen Brunson trade in 2022.
Feb 8, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Mark Cuban watches the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
“They knew the KP trade wasn’t working out. KP got traded at the deadline, and Brunson’s last year in Dallas,” the ESPN reporter continued. “They knew they had to find a co-star for him. If they were going to make that trade, Brunson had to be part of it. That’s why they didn’t offer the extension until after the deadline.” The Mavericks played it safe, but at a cost. With limited assets, any big move for Luka’s co-star likely meant sacrificing Brunson. An extension would have locked him in past the trade deadline—too risky. Meanwhile, Cuban eyed the luxury tax, knowing every dollar spent would hit even harder. So, they hesitated. And, well, the rest is history.
“Frankly, they misvalued him. They didn’t believe he could be that kind of guy. Not many people did. Cuban also thought Brunson wouldn’t have much of a market for most of that season,” said Tim MacMahon. Maybe now, watching Jalen Brunson change the game for the New York Knicks, Mark Cuban and Co. regret letting him go so soon. But then, the Mavs also let go of Luka, around whom their strategies and universe revolved. Doesn’t look like the current GM, Nico Harrison, regrets the choices he made. But then, you never know.
But Brunson’s exit wasn’t the only storm brewing in Dallas. While Cuban played chess with contracts, chaos unfolded behind closed doors. Tensions flared, egos clashed, and a heated altercation put the spotlight back on Luka Doncic.
Amidst Mark Cuban’s trading blunders, something more serious was happening in the Mavs locker room
Since Tim MacMahon’s book hit the shelves, basketball fans have been looking at Rick Carlisle in a negative light. His final years with the Mavericks reveal a different side of the legendary coach. Well, he brought the 2011 championship home, and Mark Cuban was the happiest person, given how dedicated he has always been toward Dallas. But then, a series of accusations and Jamahl Mosley’s entry into the scene turned Carlisle’s fate upside down. And, of course, Luka found himself in the mix.
MacMahon shared an incident on the podcast; in fact, he wrote about it in his book. So, once, in a typical film session, Rick Carlisle walked into the hotel ballroom, team meeting the next day, and started flipping out. “This is where he calls out Dennis Smith Jr. ‘You’re jealous of Luka,’ in front of the whole team. Dennis says, ‘Dude, we’re cool. I invited him to play Fortnite with him ’cause that’s what he likes. I’m trying to be friends with him. It’s me, him, and Dorian Finney-Smith hanging out all the time. What are you talking about?’”
Of course, Luka Doncic didn’t like the ugly moment. In the meantime, Carlisle lost his temper to the point where even DeAndre Jordan, who had once snubbed him in free agency, felt the need to step in. Jordan stood up and called him out in front of the team. It was a rare moment when a player openly challenged the coach’s authority. After this episode, Rick Carlisle was walking a fine line. The locker room was slipping, and “people thought Rick might lose his job that season.” Then came the apology in San Antonio—“either an emotional, or some thought a staged, apology in San Antonio at another hotel meeting.” Damage control? Maybe. But this was the moment he handed locker room duties to Jamahl Mosley.
DALLAS, TX – NOVEMBER 6: Head Coach Rick Carlisle, and Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks look on against the Orlando Magic on November 6, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
That move only fueled more speculation. “Carlisle later thought Mosley was gunning for his job.” Some agreed, some didn’t. What was clear? “Mosley was a guy Luka trusted and loved.” The tension never faded. Yet, Carlisle wasn’t all wrong. He saw Luka’s potential, built the offense around him, and “really helped expedite Luka’s ascent into a superstar.” But the writing was on the wall. This partnership had an expiration date. And in the end? “Frankly, Rick didn’t get fired. He resigned.”
So, the Mavericks had it all—rising stars, bold trades, and a coach with a championship legacy. But missteps, misjudgments, and power struggles tore it apart. Mark Cuban gambled and lost, Jalen Brunson thrived elsewhere, and Rick Carlisle’s time ran out. Luka remained, but for how long? He, too, found himself moved away. Thus, the tales and evidence scream only one truth, and that is that Dallas could be a madhouse sometimes, and you shouldn’t be surprised!
The post Not Nico Harrison, Mark Cuban’s Major Blunder Confirmed as Another Locker Room Altercation Involving Luka Doncic Emerges appeared first on EssentiallySports.
