The Dallas Mavericks can now officially sign Luka Doncic now that he has reached a buyout agreement with Real Madrid, according to Keith Smith of Real GM.
Sources: Luka Doncic has reached an official buyout with Real Madrid. This will clear the Dallas Mavericks to officially sign their first round pick.
Doncic is still highly unlikely to play in NBA Summer League, due to coming off a long season overseas.
â Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) July 7, 2018
After the draft, the Mavericks said that Doncic would probably not play in the NBA Summer League because of how long his European season lasted, and that doesn't' seem like it will be changing. Chances are low that Doncic will play in the last few games of the Mavericks summer league.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was at the summer league on Friday night and talked about how Doncic was the number one player on their board.
Article Continues BelowâHe was the top player on our board,â Mavs owner Mark Cuban told ESPN. âIt wasn't even close.â
The Mavs traded up two spots to get Doncic and in return had to give up next year's first-round pick, but Cuban isn't concerned about that.
âThe logic is, if you think he's a game-changing player for you, a franchise-changing player, you don't care about your next pick,â Cuban said. âYou just want that player.â
âHe's just got to get stronger and a little bit more physical for our game, but he's got all the opportunities right in front of him to be amazing,â Cuban said. âPeople talk about his athleticism. He hasn't really worked on his athleticism ever. Most 17-, 18-year-old kids don't. It's when they get into the pros or particularly the NBA.
It will probably take a few years for Doncic to grow into his role with the Mavs, but he has all the makings of a superstar.