In the final hours before the NBA trade deadline, in one of the craziest seasons, many unexpected operations have taken place. The departure of Jimmy Butler from Miami to the Golden State Warriors for Stephen Curry. The arrival of De'Aaron Fox in San Antonio. The almost departure of Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns. Or the wild 24 hours of Dennis Schröder, who woke up in San Francisco (where he was traded in December), was seen with the Miami Heat as part of the Butler trade, had lunch knowing he was being exchanged with the Utah Jazz, and went to sleep surprised that Detroit will be his final destination. For now.
But undoubtedly, the operation of the year, the decade, the century, is the one that took Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers of LeBron James in exchange for Anthony Davis, several more players, and some picks for the upcoming draft. It has been so talked about that fans [who held a funeral at the stadium entrance, with a coffin and all, and have filled the area with signs, candles, and shirts with mourning messages] do not believe that the reasons have been, can be, merely sports-related. Nothing is more appealing than a good game than a good conspiracy, and in the past week, a good number of them have emerged.
The position of the Dallas Mavericks' manager, Nico Harrison, is that to win a championship, a good defense is needed, something that Doncic does not provide, but Davis does. Additionally, Harrison has not hesitated to tell anyone willing to listen that the Slovenian's "physical condition," an elusive way of saying alleged overweight, and his continuous injuries, after playing less than half of the season's games (despite having incredible numbers), motivated the decision. Not to mention the nearly $350 million for five seasons that the former Real Madrid player could have received in his next contract extension in the summer if he had stayed in Texas. But there is much more.
One of the most circulating theories among fans is that Doncic may not have a wrist injury or a superficial calf problem, but something much more serious, chronic. Serious enough to rule him out as a player for more than 70 games a season. Supporters of this hypothesis find it suspicious that the pre-Christmas injury report did not mention the calf, an area that has suffered up to five relapses. They argue that Doncic, an exceptional player, does not have the necessary physical conditions to endure 10 seasons at the highest level. But everything has been hidden to deceive the Lakers, avoiding paying the best contract in history.
Among Doncic's critics, Nico Harrison supporters, and gossip lovers, the version that it was not just a physical problem but an attitude issue in general has also gained traction. Social media has seen comments proliferate about the Slovenian's lack of commitment, with allegations that he was a bad teammate, consistently late for training, not taking his job seriously, and creating a negative atmosphere. This is challenging to defend considering the farewell words from his now former teammates or legends like Dirk Nowitzki.
As evidence, the team's dismissals in the last year and a half are presented. Since Doncic did not change his habits, the Mavericks thought they would motivate him by making changes around him. They fired the head of player health and performance, the fitness coach Jeremy Holsopple, and the physiotherapist Casey Spangler, veterans of the team who had a close relationship with him. The Slovenian hired his own team, including two Spaniards he knew from his time at Real Madrid, but without the desired results. What Harrison considers as proof of either the first theory or the second.
A very minority thesis, but entertaining, suggests that everything is the doing of LeBron James, the "most powerful man in the NBA," who must have known something, as he claimed, given that his agent was aware of part of the operation. According to this unique line of thought, James, who at some point speculated about having his own team in Las Vegas, would have relied on the Lakers' sports director, Pelinka, and the aforementioned Nico Harrison from Dallas. Friends for over 20 years, former teammates, who have secretly cooked this up without the Mavericks seeking better offers elsewhere. Nike, where both worked before, when they were handling Kobe Bryant, would also be involved in the operation. This would allow James to leave a successor and pave the way for his future in Sin City.
One of the most elaborate conspiracy theories claims that behind Doncic's departure is the NBA itself, pressured by the decline in game viewership, arena attendance, and the transformation of the game into a three-point shooting frenzy. An absolute manipulation to favor the historic big franchises at the expense of others. This conspiracy theory argues that the league needs stars and strong personalities but lacks drama, enemies, villains. "What better way to spark interest than to devise a spectacular trade between possibly the best player in the league and the second-best franchise in league history? As big as LeBron James is, no one believed that the Lakers before Luka were destined to win the championship. And an NBA Finals between the Cavaliers and the Thunder would put everyone to sleep," concludes not without a hint of truth.
Therefore, its supporters argue that everything has been orchestrated in the shadows. "The NBA needs the Lakers, the Celtics, and the Knicks to solve the viewership issue. This trade doesn't make sense until one opens up to that reality. And please, don't act as if the league doesn't organize these kinds of things. The stupid Lakers' bubble championship in 2020 was more rigged than WrestleMania, and you know it," says one of its spokespersons.
Former players like Dwayne Wade completely agree. "It has been an incredible business decision by billionaires who said, 'This is what I want for now, and this is what we need as a league.' Luka will be the face of the Lakers for 10 years, and he can be with LeBron James... the guy who has been the face of the league, who can show him how to do it and how to take care of himself the way he needs," he stated in a podcast.
But undoubtedly, the conspiracy theory that has resonated the most, the most elaborate, with names, numbers, and dates, is the one that claims that the Mavericks have ousted their star player as a mafia-like threat against Texas authorities. Doncic would not be the protagonist, but a collateral damage, the first sacrifice before the big bomb: the franchise's definitive departure to Las Vegas, leaving Dallas without representation in the NBA.
Attorney Kristopher Kratovil, the one who has given it the most shape but by no means the only one to support it from the start, argues in a lengthy post that the new ownership group Adelson/Dumont, who bought the team from investor Mark Cuban in 2023, "has no real interest in basketball. The Mavs are just a means to an end, which is to open up the largest untapped betting market in the country, Texas. A complex with a casino with the new Mavs stadium in it is their stated goal."
What is the problem for the Adelsons? That sports betting and gambling are not legal in the state, and despite their lobbying efforts, spending huge amounts of money to convince state politicians, everything indicates that the latest gambling bill will fail again in 2025. "The Adelsons need more influence to get the gambling law passed in the state legislature, but they already donate more money to Texas politicians than literally anyone else and employ dozens of good lobbyists," he writes in his post. "So, when the carrot hasn't worked for them, they need a stick. That stick is the threat of moving the Mavs to Las Vegas unless they get what they want."
Changing cities is something that has a huge impact. It happens, but not very often due to the consequences. So the best way is to start disconnecting, and what better way to pressurize and demotivate at the same time than to sacrifice the team's big star, the franchise player, the heir of Dirk Nowitzki, at whose statue in the city a very clear motto is read: "loyalty never fades."
Thus, getting rid of Doncic would not only diminish emotional value to a wounded public, but it would also send a very serious warning to politicians, who could be seen as responsible. Analysis shows that the Mavericks lost 700,000 followers on Instagram in the few hours following the trade announcement.