One NBA writer has proposed a wild trade idea involving Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic and Victor Wembanyama. In a May 22 column called “NBA Trade Ideas for Players Who Need a Fresh Start,” Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report proposed that the Mavericks trade Doncic to the San Antonio Spurs for Wembanyama.
The Spurs have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and will select Wembanyama.
“Why? Partly because this would be the most seismic trade in league history, but also because the Dallas Mavericks have given Luka Doncic no reason to believe they’ll surround him with enough talent to contend,” Hughes wrote. “The best player with whom Doncic has spent a full season, Jalen Brunson, got away for nothing last summer. And now the organization seems intent on hitching its wagon to Kyrie Irving, a decision that has produced mostly chaos and failure across the last half-decade or so.
“The Mavs are asset-poor, just missed the playoffs and have had no shortage of troubling reports and allegations about a toxic culture, plus front-office turmoil. Doncic has professed happiness in Dallas, but it’s hard to argue the franchise has positioned him to succeed. He deserves better.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, Victor Wembanyama & San Antonio Spurs Updates
The Mavericks missed the playoffs this season despite having Doncic and All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving on the roster. Hughes thinks Doncic deserves better than what he’s getting in Dallas, but the odds of this trade happening with the Spurs are likely zero.
“Who says no? Probably both, but the Mavericks might get their ‘no’ out first,” Hughes wrote. “The Spurs would need to clear more money to onboard Doncic’s salary, but that’d be easy enough. From their perspective, it’s not the wildest idea to trade a player who might someday become a generational superstar for one who already is.
“Ultimately, Wembanyama might not be tradeable under any circumstances. It also seems a little early for Dallas to move on from Doncic if he hasn’t already communicated a desire to leave. Still, if you’re concocting a swap involving one generational talent, the only way to make it plausible is to include another.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, Victor Wembanyama & San Antonio Spurs Updates
Doncic signed a five-year, $215.2 million designated rookie contract extension with Dallas in 2021. He averaged 32.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists this season. However, the Mavericks won only 38 games.
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