The Dallas Mavericks thought they were resetting their future when they moved on from Luka Doncic.
Instead, the chain of deals that followed has left them with a shallow collection of players and distant draft picks that looks nowhere near enough for a generational superstar.
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Dallas Mavericks complete Luka Doncic return
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
The original decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers centred on acquiring Anthony Davis as the franchise’s new foundation.
That gamble has now fully collapsed, with Dallas having since moved Davis on and locked in the full downstream return tied to losing their former MVP-calibre guard.
As confirmed after Dallas traded Davis to Washington, a move first outlined publicly when Anthony Davis was made available following the season, the Mavericks’ complete return now consists of:
Oklahoma City Thunder 2026 first-round pick
LA Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick
Protected Golden State Warriors 2030 first-round pick
Three future second-round selections.
That reality was underlined once Davis was officially moved, ending any remaining hope that Dallas could still extract elite value from the original deal that sent Doncic to Los Angeles.
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Dallas Mavericks’ return looks indefensible
Measured against the value of a 25-year-old perennial All-NBA player, the Mavericks’ return is stark. None of the players acquired project as franchise cornerstones, while the draft capital is spread thin and heavily dependent on long-term uncertainty.
Christie and Branham profile as rotation pieces rather than difference-makers, Bagley has already bounced between teams, and Middleton arrived well past his prime years. The first-round picks are years away and carry protections that limit their upside.
What makes the outcome more damaging is that the Mavericks voluntarily shortened their competitive window by pivoting away from a player capable of carrying an offense by himself in the postseason.
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The end result is a franchise without a clear identity, holding a return package that will be remembered as one of the weakest hauls ever accepted for a true superstar.
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