Luka Dončić’s trade to the Los Angeles Lakers continues to spark intense debate in the NBA community. Two weeks post-trade, commissioner Adam Silver addressed one prominent theory: that Dončić was traded to alienate the Dallas Mavericks’ fanbase, potentially paving the way for the new ownership—who acquired the team in 2023—to relocate it to Las Vegas. This speculation was echoed by Bill Simmons, among others, although it’s worth noting that part of this theory—that fans would become displeased with the Mavericks—has indeed transpired.
Brian Windhorst from ESPN expressed skepticism towards this and several other conspiracy theories surrounding the trade. On All-Star Saturday night, Silver firmly dismissed the claim that the team’s new owners had plans to move it to Las Vegas. “There’s no doubt in my mind [new ownership] has bought that team to keep it in Dallas,” Silver stated per Rachel Nichols on X. He reassured fans, saying, “All I can say to the fans is that time will tell if it’s a smart trade, but I think they should believe in their organization.”
Adam Silver on a theory among some Mavs fans that the Luka trade was part of a plan to eventually move the team to Las Vegas: “there’s no doubt in my mind [new ownership] has bought that team to keep it in Dallas. And all I can say to the fans is that time will tell if it’s a…
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) February 16, 2025
Silver’s confidence is telling; however, it will take time to accurately assess who won the trade and whether it was the right decision. For those harboring doubts about the trade’s intentions, the resolution of such skepticism will also require patience.
