Amidst a packed NBA night of basketball, one of the highlight matchups will feature the Atlanta Hawks going to the American Airlines Center and facing off against the Dallas Mavericks. The game will feature Luka Doncic locking horns with Trae Young. The two stars have shared a legacy since their draft nights in 2018 after the Mavericks and the Hawks swapped the two players. The two have had a storied career in the NBA since then.?Many fans believe the Hawks got the short end of the stick, with the Mavericks getting the steal of the century. Meanwhile,?the Slovenian guard reportedly has made a major demand to the Mavs management with the NBA trade deadline right around the corner.
Luka Doncic firmly requests for roster improvements
Luka Magic is having yet another historic season this year. Currently, the 23-year-old is having one of the best statistical seasons in the history of the league. He leads the league in scoring with an average of 33.8 points per game combined with 9.0 rebounds and 8.8 assists. However, the lack of another co-star has forced the 3x All-Star to carry the team’s load alone, evident in his usage rate of 38%. Though Doncic has willed his team to the fifth seed in the Western Conference with a record 24-21 come playoff time, the lack of a second star has left major concerns for many fans, including Doncic himself.
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In a recent ESPN report, senior writer Tim MacMohan reported that sources have pointed to the active involvement of Doncic in the days leading up to the trade deadline. The former Rookie of the Year has not had a past of getting involved in personnel matters. However, this time, he has strongly indicated that the Mavericks upgrade the roster before the deadline.
REPORT: Luka Dončić “has strongly indicated he wants the Mavs to upgrade [the roster] before the Feb. 9 trade deadline.”
(via @espn_macmahon, https://t.co/dhYWVkXzrA) pic.twitter.com/X7G0jRaARc
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 18, 2023
History has shown us that disappointed superstars are a recipe for disaster, leaving Mark Cuban and co with no choice but to keep Doncic happy and heed his demands. However, it may not be easy for the management to make major moves in the market as they still owe the New York Knicks a portion of Kristaps Porzingas’ contract.
Read More -?5x NBA All Star Coming in Luka Doncic?s Aid ?Makes a Ton of Sense?: Insider
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Moreover, the Mavericks are paying north of $15 million to just four players on the roster, with Doncic raking in $37 million per year. Regardless, only time will tell what the future holds for the Mavericks and Doncic.
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Who do you think the Mavericks will trade for before the trade deadline? Let us know in the comments below.
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