Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison made headlines late Saturday night when he infamously traded Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick. During a Sunday press conference, he claimed that he had only offered Doncic to the Lakers, sparking a wave of international discussion.
However, reports soon surfaced contradicting Harrison’s claim. According to Sam Amick, Joe Vardon, and Fred Katz of The Athletic, Harrison had actually approached at least one other team about a potential deal involving Doncic.
“Though Mavs general manager Nico Harrison seemed to indicate in a news conference Sunday that he spoke only to the Lakers about Dončić, Dallas called at least one other team to inquire about a deal that would flip Dončić for another star, league sources told The Athletic,” the trio wrote.
This raised several questions: Which of the other 28 NBA teams was the mysterious one? And which team was offered Doncic but chose not to engage?
The process of elimination makes the answer fairly straightforward. Even if Harrison felt that Doncic was not the right leader for the Mavericks, the 25-year-old superstar remains one of the league’s most valuable assets. There were few players who better fit Harrison’s needs than Doncic.
What were the Mavericks hoping for in return for Doncic?
On February 3, 2024, Harrison told the media that he believed the Mavericks would have a better chance of winning after trading Doncic, citing Davis’ defensive impact and Doncic’s lack of influence on that end of the floor.
“I believe that defense wins championships,” Harrison said. “I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future.”
Could Oklahoma City have been willing to trade MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for a star set to become a free agent in 2026? Would Nikola Jokic’s talent have made Harrison reconsider his focus on acquiring defensively-minded players? Would the Nuggets bet on Jokic to convince Doncic to stay? Was there any chance the Celtics would trade Jayson Tatum?
While Kyrie Irving and Doncic formed one of the league’s most potent offenses, Harrison was looking for something different. Could Donovan Mitchell of the Cavaliers have provided that change? Would the Spurs trade Victor Wembanyama for anyone? Was Jimmy Butler, a decade older than Doncic, really the answer Harrison was seeking?
That brings us to Anthony Davis, who had long been seen as the best All-NBA player capable of providing elite defensive impact—except for one. According to league sources speaking to ClutchPoints, the common belief is that Harrison initially hoped to replace Doncic with none other than Giannis Antetokounmpo.
A two-time MVP and the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year, Antetokounmpo turned 30 in December and is one of the most dominant players on both sides of the ball. Rumors had been swirling for weeks that the Bucks were looking to shake things up. Meanwhile, the Mavericks had just dealt Quentin Grimes to the 76ers to avoid hitting the first apron hard-cap, making a clean financial fit crucial. Antetokounmpo’s salary, just $5 million above Doncic’s, would have made a trade feasible.
Amick, Vardon, and Katz reported that the discussions were brief. The Bucks had seen Antetokounmpo lead them to a championship in 2021, with a 50-point Finals-clinching performance. Previous reports had dismissed any trades involving Antetokounmp
