Dallas Mavericks CEO makes admission over his own Luka Doncic trade misjudgment, ‘in my 47 years in the NBA...’

The Dallas Mavericks are hoping their 2024-25 season will be remembered for more than simply being the one in which they traded away Luka Doncic.

24 hours after the Dallas Mavericks decided to trade away Luka Doncic , the team had a road game in Cleveland.

But while this was taking place, fans were gathering outside the Mavs home stadium, bringing a coffin with them, to represent the death of the Luka Doncic era.

It demonstrated the depth of hurt being felt by Mavs fans, who had believed Doncic was going to be a part of the team for another decade, having been a mainstay since being drafted in 2018.

Subsequent games saw Mavs fans chant outside the arena against General Manager Nico Harrison , while inside the arena, fans were ejected by security, and involved in a war of words with minority owner Mark Cuban .

Rick Welts speaks out The All-Star break has given a pause for reflection, with the Dallas Mavericks now looking forward towards the final stretch of the regular season, where they aim to lock up a playoff spot.

But they know they cannot look past the events of the past month, and CEO Rick Welts has admitted the reaction to their decision has been unlike anything he has ever seen.

Welts was appointed in December 2024, having previously been with the Warriors , and he says he mis underestimated the reaction to trading away Doncic, while doubling down on the decision, saying the organization were trying to do the right thing.

He explained to the Dallas News : I thought Id seen everything in my 47 years in the NBA, but clearly this was different.

I think a lot of people of good intent tried to do the right thing.

I probably underestimated the reaction.

I think weve done the best we can, basically, with the staff and trying to do the right thing with everybody who touches the Mavericks.

Welts can be cut a little slack, being so new to the Mavs, in terms of misjudging the connection between the fanbase and Doncic, who was traded away to the LA Lakers .

But the reaction towards those in charge has been hard-hitting, with Jalen Rose urging the new ownership group to sell the team.

Governor Patrick Dumont incited criticism with his own takedown of Luka Doncic, with one former NBA star pointing out that he has not been with the Mavs long enough to understand, mirroring Welts own admission.

Rick Welts confident in Mavs prospects Rick Welts went on to say that this period has been a testing time for Mavs staffers, and they are optimistic of being successful.

He said: Its incredibly emotional, an incredibly difficult time for so many people.

But I still believe were going to come out on the other side, with a future thats incredibly bright.

Thats kind of my glass-half-full approach there.

The Mavs were dealt an early blow when new acquisition Anthony Davis went down with an injury on his debut for the team.

It has even been suggested he was rushed back from a previous injury to placate upset fans.

He wont be back for another month.

Welts had recently admitted the Mavs ownership wanted to put their own stamp on the post-Mark Cuban era, the man who drafted Doncic.

Cuban is alleged to have attempted to prevent the trade but was too late, with an agreement already struck.

The Mavericks return to action later this week with a home game against the Pelicans, before an eye-catching road trip.

After a game at the Warriors, they visit the Lakers, going up against the team now spearheaded by Luka Doncic , and that will be a game the ownership will be desperate that they wont be embarrassed in.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission..

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