There's already been speculation about Luka Doncic's long-term future with the Dallas Mavericks, but Nikola Jokic extended his offer to the Denver Nuggets.
During NBA All-Star Weekend, two-time NBA MVP Doncic joked that he could play as the reigning champion if he was “pissed off” by the Mavs.
The close friendship between Jokic and Doncic was evident this weekend in Indianapolis.
Although Jokic was a joke, there is a very real scenario in which Doncic could seek an escape from Dallas. The organization has already mortgaged much of its future on a series of deals, leaving it with few options going forward.
B/R's Dan Favarre accused the Mavs of acquiring P.J. Washington at the trade deadline, saying it was a retroactive cost to acquiring Grant Williams, who was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in the offseason.
“Going back to the sign-and-trade deal that acquired Williams this past offseason, the Mavericks have now traded a 2027 first-round pick and an unprotected 2030 first-round pick for P.J. Washington. ” Favare wrote.
If you want to go back even further, the first mistake that set in motion all subsequent contracts was Jalen Brunson signing a four-year, $55.5 million contract extension that was supposed to be signed midway through 2021-22. That's what I didn't do.
The Mavs then traded Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and three draft picks, including a 2029 unprotected pick, to the Brooklyn Nets in February 2023, and Kyrie, who was in the final season of his contract, was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in February 2023. We got Irving.
Irving signed a three-year, $120 million contract to remain in Dallas last summer.
At the end of last season, ESPN's Tim McMahon reported that there were “fears” within the Mavericks organization that Doncic could request a trade as early as the summer of 2024 if the team didn't make significant progress. ”.
McMahon also noted that Doncic has expressed his dissatisfaction with the Mavericks' situation publicly and privately, at least during the season.
Dallas has been better this season, but still doesn't look like a title contender. The team's 32-23 record at the All-Star break ranks seventh in the Western Conference, just one game behind the New Orleans Pelicans for fifth place.
If Doncic finds himself in a position where he wants to leave Dallas in the near future, the Nuggets could be in need of a point guard beyond next season. Jamal Murray's current contract is scheduled to expire at the end of the 2024-25 season.
it seems very unlikely
