The Mavericks and GM Nico Harrison didn't trust Luka Doncic to sign the supermax extension and ultimately chose to trade him instead.
Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison recently doubled and tripled down on his decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, repeatedly using the phrase "no regrets" during a private, invite-only meeting with selected Dallas media members on Tuesday.
No cameras or recording devices were allowed, but media members who attended reported on an exchange between Harrison and ESPN's Tim MacMahon during the roundtable discussion.
Tim MacMahon: "Luka was gonna sign the supermax. Why didn’t you sign him and then, if you really wanted to trade him [...]?"
Nico Harrison: "Well, there's no guarantee he would sign a supermax."
Tim MacMahon: "He has guaranteed it, he was bawling on the bench."
Nico Harrison: "Well, like I said, we can agree to disagree, and that's fine. We targeted Anthony Davis."
By all indications, it wasn't that Doncic didn't want to sign the five-year, $345 million extension — it was that the Mavs didn't want to offer it.
The Athletic previously reported that Dallas had doubts about Luka's physical condition moving forward and was hesitant to commit to a supermax deal.
Dallas Mavericks
Toronto Raptors
Memphis Grizzlies
Sacramento Kings