“Only Time Will Tell”: Adam Silver Backs Mavericks’ Intentions in Luka Dončić Trade, Clarifies League’s Role
NBA Commissioner says Dallas’ move was “for basketball reasons,” rebuts relocation speculation and compares his role to David Stern’s 2011 veto.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed the fallout from the Dallas Mavericks’ blockbuster trade of Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, defending the organization’s motivations while offering clarity on the league office’s role in trade approvals.
Speaking on Thursday’s episode of The Pat McAfee Show, Silver said the Mavericks “believed they were making the best trade on behalf of the Dallas Mavericks,” and dismissed rumors suggesting the deal was financially or relocation-driven.
“The only place where I feel defensive on behalf of the Dallas Mavericks and new ownership there is, there were some suggestions early on that the trade wasn’t done for basketball reasons,” Silver said. “That somehow, the new owner didn’t want to pay a maximum salary or was focused on building a real estate development or something else. The only thing I can say—and I feel very confident in this, knowing Patrick Dumont, who is the governor of the team, and the people involved—they believed that they were making the best trade on behalf of the Dallas Mavericks. Whether that turns out to be true, again, only time will tell.”
The February 2 trade that sent Dončić to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and draft compensation stunned the basketball world and sparked backlash in Dallas, including protests outside the American Airlines Center and heavy criticism directed at Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison.
Silver acknowledged the fan reaction, saying he understands the emotional response from a passionate fan base.
“It’s been a rough time since they made the trade, there’s no question about it,” Silver said. “A combination of Anthony Davis—my God—going down in the very first game he was playing for the Mavericks. Kyrie [Irving], then, with the season-ending injury… I get the fans’ passion. I understand, again, why Dallas Mavericks fans are so upset. I, personally, am a fan of Luka Dončić. I think he’s a great young man. Let’s see how this turns out. I want him to be great. I want the Dallas Mavericks to be great.”
Some fans and analysts questioned whether the NBA should have intervened in the deal, citing former commissioner David Stern’s veto of a 2011 trade that would have sent Chris Paul to the Lakers. Silver explained that Stern acted in his capacity as owner of the then-league-operated New Orleans Hornets, not as commissioner—a distinction he emphasized he’s learned from.
“Just to clarify: the commissioner doesn’t have the right to block a trade other than a trade not conforming to our rules,” Silver said. “You alluded to David Stern once blocking a trade, but it… I get how confusing it was to fans. He was both the commissioner and the acting owner of the New Orleans franchise at the time. A trade was recommended to him by the general manager, and he turned down that trade based on what he thought was in the best interest of that franchise as an owner, not as the commissioner.”
Silver added that he learned from that situation while serving in an interim capacity for the Los Angeles Clippers after Donald Sterling’s departure.
“When we were running the Clippers, a guy named Dick Parsons came in and was the interim governor,” Silver said. “And I said, ‘Dick, you are the owner of that team. You will decide what trades to make or not make, not me.’ So there’s absolutely no confusion.”
Silver also addressed the league’s procedural role in reviewing trades, noting that while the league office is informed slightly before the public, its function is logistical, not evaluative.
“The league office learns a little bit ahead of the public because… both teams have to be on the phone. The lawyers and the basketball folks at the league office have to make sure that the contracts match, that the team indeed has the cap room to make the trade, that it complies with our rules,” Silver said. “So I don’t really have a role in that process other than if there’s somehow a dispute as to the mechanism of the trade.”
The trade also reignited speculation that the Mavericks’ new owners—majority stakeholder Miriam Adelson and team governor Patrick Dumont—could be eyeing a future move to Las Vegas, especially given Dumont’s role as president and COO of Las Vegas Sands Corp.
Silver dismissed those rumors directly during the show, reaffirming the team’s commitment to Dallas and its plans to build a new arena.
“They’re not going anywhere,” Silver said. “They’re looking to build a new arena in Dallas.”
Dumont similarly shut down relocation concerns back in February, telling The Dallas Morning News, “We had options to buy other teams in the past, but Dallas was the city that we wanted to be in, and that’s where it’s going to be.”
The Mavericks have been based in Dallas since their founding in 1980. They are currently working through development and zoning approvals for a proposed new arena and entertainment district in Irving, with support from Las Vegas Sands Corp.
While the debate surrounding the Dončić trade continues, Silver reiterated that the ultimate judgment will come with time.
“Whether it turns out to be the right trade, only time will tell,” he said.
The Lakers clinched the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and enter the playoffs led by Dončić and LeBron James. The Mavericks, now featuring Davis, are fighting to secure the final playoff spot.
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