Fans of the Dallas Mavericks may want to look away on Wednesday evening when Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers come into town, marking the perennial MVP candidates' first game back in Dallas since he was shockingly traded in early February. Since then, Doncic and the Lakers have turned themselves into legitimate title contenders, while the Mavericks have endured a series of injuries and other setbacks that have them looking like a likely play-in exit.

There were several different perspectives to highlight just how mind-boggling the trade was from a Mavericks point of view, but recently, NBA insider Marc Stein took to his Substack to make things somehow look even more embarrassing for Nico Harrison and company.

Doncic's home was reportedly burglarized earlier this season, causing him to hone in on “a late February closing on what he envisioned would be his long-term Dallas base.”

This move was “reaffirming his desire to be and stay a Maverick in the process. Congratulations were conveyed from the organization to Dončić on his looming purchase and move … while the clandestine trade talks with the Lakers were nearing consummation.”

That's right: The Mavericks had the audacity to congratulate Doncic on the purchase of his new home while actively closing in on a deal to trade him to Los Angeles.

The NBA is a strange business, to be sure.

A shocking move

Article Continues Below
More Dallas Mavericks News
Mavericks Nico Harrison on left. Mavericks PJ Washington shooting a basketball on right. Place a stop sign in the middle.
Why Mavericks’ potential PJ Washington trade would be disasterJoey Mistretta ·
Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) looks on during the first half against the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome.
Klay Thompson’s heart-wrenching tribute to late dog RoccoJoey Mistretta ·
Scottie Scheffler reacts after making his putt on the 14th green during the second round of the Memorial Tournament
Scottie Scheffler has hilarious Mavericks thought at The MemorialKendall Capps ·
Klay Thompson with his dog Rocco.
Klay Thompson’s beloved dog Rocco passes away at 13Kenzo Fukuda ·
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) holds onto the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter during game four of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Chase Center. Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Mavericks ‘blueprint’ cited for Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga trade strategyJake Faigus ·
Mavericks Rick Welts with the Dallas skyline in background.
Mavericks CEO reveals 1 intriguing element of potential new arenaJoey Mistretta ·
Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison (right) looks on during warms up before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Memphis Grizzlies at the American Airlines Center.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Prior to the deal, Doncic was viewed by many to be one of the only truly “untouchable” players in the NBA landscape, alongside names like Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

However, the trade of Doncic to the Lakers immediately shook up the NBA world and made it clear that nothing would be off the table moving forward.

In the two months since the Doncic trade, the Mavericks have seen Kyrie Irving go down with a torn ACL, while Anthony Davis only recently returned from an injury of his own.

Meanwhile, Doncic has overcome an up and down start with the Lakers and now has them looking like legitimate threats to come out of the Western Conference.