The Dallas Mavericks trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers? Yeah, that’s not something anyone saw coming. But here’s the thing—rumors are swirling that the Mavs weren’t exactly thrilled with his conditioning and weight. I mean, we’re talking about a guy who could’ve landed a $345 million supermax contract this summer.Even Mark Cuban, the former majority owner of the Mavs, found it surprising.

Luka’s teammate Dorian Finney-Smith backed the 5x All-Star. Finney-Smith kept it straightforward when asked about the chatter surrounding Doncic’s conditioning. “I know how many want to play the whole game,” he said. “Now, I think he played like 40 minutes every game last playoffs, so that’s what the thing is about—he wants to play. I don’t really look at the noise.”  

Finney-Smith, known for his no-nonsense approach, emphasized focusing on Doncic’s performance rather than the speculation. “You know, I look at his production and how he produces it, though,” he added. “If I’m putting up them type of numbers, maybe I need to be 270 [pounds].” 

Things would’ve been different if Mark was still calling the shots, which has now been confirmed by an ex-Mavs star. According to Tim Legler, who was with Dallas in 93-94 season, Cuban wouldn’t have even entertained the thought of trading Luka. “Not only would Mark Cuban not have done the deal, Mark Cuban would’ve fired a person who suggested it on the spot… Because he’d be certain that person has to be doing something in terms of narcotics…” he said this on the ALLNBA podcast.

Reportedly, while recovering from his calf injury that he suffered on Christmas day, Luka had gained weight and gone up to 270 pounds. And that’s why DFS made that comment.

Luka at 25 is already a five-time first-team All-NBA player, dropping 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists this season despite injuries. He’s now one of only three players—alongside Kevin Durant and Tim Duncan—to make five All-NBA first teams before turning 26.

Last year, he led the league with 33.9 PPG. The Lakers just landed a top-five superstar—guys like him don’t get traded unless they demand it. Cuban would’ve never let it happen. If Cuban was still in charge, and as Finney-Smith rightly noted, as long as he was averaging 30 ppg, no one would’ve cared.

Mark Cuban wasn’t involved in the decision

Five years ago, Mark Cuban made it clear—he’d rather go through a divorce than trade Luka Doncic. Yet here we are. The Mavericks, now under different leadership, just sent their 25-year-old superstar to the Lakers for Anthony Davis. And Cuban? He had no say in it.

In 2020, when he still controlled the franchise, Cuban famously told reporters, “Catch me at my lawyer’s office preparing for a divorce” if it ever came down to choosing between Doncic and his wife. Back then, Doncic was untouchable. But things change fast. In November 2023, Cuban sold a majority stake in the team for $3.5 billion, keeping only a 27% share. Initially, it seemed like he’d still run basketball operations, but by June, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported that wasn’t the case anymore.

So, when it was time to trade Doncic, it wasn’t Cuban pulling the strings. Mavericks GM Nico Harrison had full backing from team governor Patrick Dumont, per Dallas Morning News’ Brad Townsend.

Cuban never moved Dirk Nowitzki, even when the Lakers dangled Shaquille O’Neal in 2004. But this is a new era in the ‘Big D’, and just like that, Doncic’s time there is over.