Following one of the most significant trades in the history of the Dallas Mavericks and the NBA, Mark Cuban was conspicuously absent. Traditionally the principal owner and public face of the franchise, Cuban would have been an expected figure to address the resulting anger and concern. However, as a minority owner now, his influence over the team’s direction, particularly regarding Luka Dončić, is limited. While it might be an exaggeration to say he has no say, it’s clear he is no longer the primary decision-maker in Dallas. If he were still in that role, perhaps Anthony Davis wouldn’t be scouting apartments in the ‘Big D.’
Interestingly, Cuban’s hands were not involved in this landmark trade that even had Shams Charania questioning if someone had hacked his phone. The responsibility fell to general manager Nico Harrison, who attempted to joke his way through the trade inquiries during a brief press conference. While he may not be hosting uncomfortable media events, Cuban is sharing his thoughts with the press. According to Chandler Parsons from FanDuel’s Run It Back, Cuban expressed his own bewilderment regarding the trade. “I texted him and said, ‘I’m confused,’” Parsons recounted. “And he wrote back, ‘That makes two of us.’ This indicates he was not involved in the decision-making process. Moreover, the new ownership group, led by Patrick Dumont and the Adelson family, are business moguls from the Vegas casino industry and lack deep knowledge of the NBA and basketball.”
“They’ve given Nico the authority to make bold decisions like this. I believe Mark; he seems just as shocked as the rest of us,” Parsons added.
“I texted (Mark Cuban) and I said, ‘I’m so confused.’ He wrote back, ‘That makes two of us.” – @ChandlerParsons📲
The Luka Doncic trade to the Lakers shocked the former majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks.@MichelleDBeadle | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/3EyMZWBvgW
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) February 3, 2025
While Cuban might not have played a role in the trade itself, his shock—and the Mavericks’ evolving future—clearly indicates a significant shift in Dallas’s trajectory.
