Latest news with #Mavericks
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicago Bulls Would Have Offered Anything In Exchange For Luka Doncic
Chicago Bulls Would Have Offered Anything In Exchange For Luka Doncic originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The effects of the Luka Doncic trade are still being felt today, months after the initial deal. To the shock of everyone at the time, they did not entertain a bidding war for their franchise player and only sent him to the Lakers after weeks of secret negotiations. What the Dallas Mavericks may not have realized back then was that at least one team (the Bulls) would have offered anything and everything to acquire No. 77. Advertisement "A source told the Sun-Times that Arturas Karnisovas and his front office would have offered anyone and everyone on the roster had they been notified by the Mavericks that Luka Doncic was available in February," reported Joe Cowley. The Chicago Bulls have been looking for a superstar for years now, and Luka Doncic would have been the perfect fit. As a young and exciting player with a burning desire to win, his arrival would mark a new era for the Bulls and a return to contention after years of mediocrity. Sadly, it seems like they missed their chance, and they might never get the opportunity again. Luka Doncic is a once-in-a-generation type of athlete, and he's the kind of player that teams wait years to build their team around. In just seven years in the NBA, Doncic is a 5x All-Star, 5x All-NBA player, and 1x NBA scoring champion. For his career, the Slovenian guard is averaging 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game on 43.8% shooting. He was drafted third overall by the Hawks but was traded to the Mavericks on the same day. He spent six and a half seasons in Dallas, leading them to prosperity as a regular playoff contender. But even after a trip to the Finals in 2024, the Mavs turned on Doncic, having lost faith in his leadership and commitment to the game. Advertisement As relations deteriorated between Doncic and the Mavericks, most teams would have announced his availability to try and secure the best package possible. For GM Nico Harrison, however, he already had an ideal return in mind: 32-year-old Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a future first-round pick. After landing this summer's No. 1 overall pick, they can also expect to have Cooper Flagg in uniform next season, but he wasn't part of the initial trade. The return is shockingly light for a 26-year-old superstar in his prime, especially considering what the Bulls had and were willing to offer. They were willing to give up all their best assets to form a potential package including Coby White, Matas Buzelis, Patrick Williams, Lonzo Ball, four first-round picks, and three pick swaps. The deal would have brought depth to the roster and restored the Mavericks' draft capital. Meanwhile, the Bulls could have started fresh with a new leading face and an identity for the future. It's a win-win for both sides. Instead, Nico Harrison didn't even give other teams a chance to step in, and he might have hurt his own team's return in the process. Regardless, the Bulls must now continue their search for a franchise player elsewhere, and it could be a while before they finally land their guy. Related: Luka Doncic For Anthony Edwards Or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is A Fair Trade, Says Ex-NBA Player This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Lakers Trade Has Re-Invigorated Luka Doncic's Focus On Conditioning And Self-Discipline
It has been months since the trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, and questions still emerge about the young star's commitment to conditioning and training. In the aftermath of the deal, the Mavericks cited conditioning issues and weight problems as contributing factors in their decision, which lit a fire under Luka to change his entire approach. "I've heard from folks that are pretty honest that Luka has already begun a clean slate, starting anew, in this mindset of changing a lot about himself," said Jason Gallagher on 'The Dumb Zone.' Advertisement It's been well known that Doncic, 26, has struggled to stay in shape throughout his career. Early on, it was a major problem for Doncic that would cause him to get worn down over a long and competitive playoff series. While Luka's numbers went up, and his accolades kept coming, the Mavericks grew increasingly displeased with their star for his poor work ethic and lazy defensive effort. Frustrations boiled over in the 2024 NBA Finals, when Doncic's mistakes led to an embarrassing defeat to the Boston Celtics. It wasn't long after losing the Finals that Mavericks GM Nico Harrison began his secret trade negotiations with Rob Pelinka, and the rest is history. As a Laker, Doncic has a chance for a fresh start, and the Lakers have done everything they can to ease the transition. They've catered to Luka in every way possible, while LeBron James and JJ Redick started working on a game plan to best utilize his talents on the floor. In the offseason, Rob Pelinka plans to add a center to help shape the roster around Doncic's game. Ultimately, however, it's up to No. 77 to shape his future, and only he can restore his legacy. The good news is, being betrayed by the Mavericks has seemingly inspired Luka to address his flaws and change his mindset when it comes to self-discipline and conditioning. Using the example set by his teammate LeBron James, Doncic will put a renewed focus on his health and conditioning for the rest of his career. Instead of using the season to get into shape, Doncic will be training in the summer to ensure his body is ready from day one. Advertisement For a Lakers team that gave up so much to get Doncic, this is the best news to hear because if he fails to become the leader they need, it could set them back decades. With AD gone and LeBron James inching closer to retirement. Doncic is the future of the Lakers, and their success for the foreseeable future is directly linked to his performance. With averages of 28.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game last season, Luka proved that he can still deliver at a high level, but he'll have to elevate his game further to take the Lakers through the Western Conference bracket. If he starts the work now and prepares for the grind ahead of time, Doncic will have his best chance of delivering the kind of season that will silence his critics once and for all. Related: Jason Kidd Says He Hasn't Spoken To Luka Doncic Since His Trade From The Mavericks
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Luka Doncic Tells LeBron James the One Thing He Hates About Los Angeles
Luka Doncic Tells LeBron James the One Thing He Hates About Los Angeles originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Luka Doncic didn't imagine finishing this NBA season anywhere but Dallas, but that's not how things turned out. He was traded from the Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in February in a blockbuster deal that sent Anthony Davis the other way. Advertisement Doncic went on to play 33 games for the Lakers between the regular season and playoffs before he and teammate LeBron James were knocked out in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Across those five playoff games, the 26-year-old, five-time NBA All-Star averaged 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. Recently, Doncic appeared on "Mind the Game," a podcast hosted by James and NBA legend Steve Nash. They discussed numerous topics, including how he's adjusting to life in Los Angeles after spending his first six and a half NBA seasons in Dallas. Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and forward LeBron James (23).© Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images Doncic admitted he really enjoys living there, especially because of the close proximity to the ocean. However, he said the one thing he doesn't like is the traffic in Los Angeles. Advertisement "This is the first city I play in that has an ocean, and I really like the ocean," Doncic said. "First thing, I mean, after a couple days, that was the first thing on my mind, you know. It's a lot. I like it, I like it very much. The only, the only thing is, is the traffic." Los Angeles is known for its heavy traffic. According to the Global Traffic Scorecard, it ranked third in the United States for average hours lost in traffic, totaling 88 hours in 2024. Doncic was drafted third overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks before being traded that night to the Mavericks. In addition to his five All-Star appearances, he has been selected to five All-NBA First Teams, won Rookie of the Year in 2019, and led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season. Advertisement Related: LeBron James' Immediate Reaction To Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis Trade Related: LeBron James Sends Prayers After 'Senseless Act' Hits Home This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Vixens pull off big comeback in Super Netball
The Melbourne Vixens remain in touch with the Super Netball top four after a 71-61 win over the Giants at Ken Rosewall Arena. Down by four at quarter-time and still two at the main break, the Vixens clicked into gear in the second half to notch consecutive victories for the first time this season. Despite being anchored to the bottom of the ladder with just one win, the Giants stormed out of the blocks and threatened to derail the Vixens' finals aspirations. But Melbourne pulled away with an 18-10 final quarter, including sinking a super shot on the fulltime buzzer. Goal attack Kiera Austin, who starred by making 16 of her 19 shots while giving off 20 goal assists, described the encounter as "tiring". "The Giants came out really well and credit to them," Austin told Fox Sports. "I think we probably started a bit slower than what we would have wanted, but stoked to have been able to come out at halftime and actually really hit it hard - what we should be doing from the get go. "I'm really proud of our defenders, I thought they stayed switched on the whole time. "We probably could have rewarded them a little bit more in the first half, but we're building so we'll take some good things from it." The Vixens return home for a clash with Melbourne rivals, the Mavericks, next Sunday. Next up for the Giants is a tough road match in Adelaide against the Thunderbirds, who suffered a close defeat to undefeated juggernaut NSW Swifts on Saturday night.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Big Luka Doncic Announcement Turns Heads on Saturday
Big Luka Doncic Announcement Turns Heads on Saturday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Los Angeles Lakers recently capped off their first season with Luka Doncic rostered, getting eliminated early in the playoffs. Advertisement Doncic was acquired by the Lakers ahead of the NBA's trade deadline in a move that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks. After one of the most shocking trades in NBA history, the Lakers entered the playoffs as a No. 3 seed in the West. But LA was quickly dismissed 4-1 by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round. After the season, players and coaches have the chance to recuperate. While many around the league use the offseason as an opportunity to travel and spend time with loved ones, LeBron James and Doncic are also giving fans an exhilarating collaboration. On Saturday, James' "Mind the Game" podcast account on X announced that Doncic will be featured as the next guest of the show. Upon the release of the announcement, some fans took to social media, sharing their thoughts on the offseason collaboration with LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Advertisement "LeLuka. I like it," said one fan. "Luka not going anywhere and ring #5 for Bron confirmed," said another fan. "LETS GOO," mentioned one fan. "Bron and Luka ring szn next year confirmed," commented one fan. "The greatest basketball player in the world," said one fan. "LeBron getting Luka on the pod? This is going to be great," said another fan. Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic (77).Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images In 2024-25 with the Lakers and Mavericks, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists in 50 regular-season games. Related: LeBron James Had No Words for Savannah James' Personal Announcement Related: LeBron James' Wife Savannah James Makes Emotional Statement on Friday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
