Nico Harrison was determined to trade Luka Doncic by the 2025 offseason at the latest, sources tell Marc Stein. Doncic was eligible for a five-year, $345 million supermax contract with the Mavericks this offseason and the team had reservations about signing him to that deal.
Harrison presumably decided to move up his timeline on trading Doncic when he began discussing a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. Both Kyrie Irving and Davis are in their early 30s, so trading for Davis now would give the Mavericks an additional year in what could be a short playoff window. Davis had an impressive debut with the Mavericks, but left the win against the Houston Rockets early due to an adductor injury.
Irving can also become a free agent this offseason and acquiring Davis during the season gives the Mavericks an early resolution on how a Doncic trade resolves their roster.