Adam Silver Says Mavericks ‘Aren’t Going Anywhere,’ Denies Dončić Trade Tied to Relocation

NBA commissioner Adam Silver made it clear Thursday that the Dallas Mavericks are not relocating, shooting down speculation that the blockbuster Luka Dončić trade was part of a broader plan to move the franchise to Las Vegas.

Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Silver said there were no “ulterior motives” behind Dallas’ February trade that sent Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers and reaffirmed the team’s long-term future in Dallas.

“They aren’t going anywhere,” Silver said. “They’re working to build a new arena in Dallas. The idea that there was some other motive behind that trade is just not accurate.”

Rumors have circulated in recent months linking the Mavericks to a possible move to Las Vegas, in large part due to the franchise’s new ownership ties. Patrick Dumont, who serves as Mavericks governor, is also the president and chief operating officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp., a company heavily invested in casino and resort development in Nevada.

However, Dumont and the organization have repeatedly denied any plans to leave Dallas. Speaking to the Dallas Morning News on Feb. 9 — just a week after the Dončić trade — Dumont reiterated his commitment to the city.

“I’m not sure where this is coming from,” Dumont said at the time. “Our family happens to live in Las Vegas, but we have investments all over the world. And the Dallas Mavericks is the team we bought. Dallas was the city that we wanted to be in, and that’s where it’s going to be.”

Meanwhile, the Mavericks appear to be moving forward with plans to remain in the Dallas area long-term. Front Office Sports reported in March that the Irving Zoning Commission approved a 5-4 vote to rezone a 1,001-acre development area — the site of the old Texas Stadium — for mixed-use development.

The Las Vegas Sands Corp. has indicated intentions to use the land to build a resort that includes a 15,000-seat arena and a 4,000-seat theater. That site is considered a likely landing spot for a new Mavericks home once the team’s lease at American Airlines Center expires in 2031.

While Dončić’s departure surprised much of the basketball world, Silver’s comments seem to quell growing concern that the franchise could be planning a move behind the scenes.

The Mavericks, established in 1980, have played in Dallas for all 45 of their NBA seasons. The franchise won its only championship in 2011 and made two other trips to the NBA Finals, including last season when Dončić led the team to a Western Conference title.