The Dallas Mavericks cannot undo the Luka Doncic trade, but they may get him back. Last result: Dallas Mavericks 149-128 Chicago Bulls (2026-04-13).
What happened?
Luka Doncic signed a three-year, $165 million extension with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025. The structure of the deal gives him a player option in 2028.
Why it matters for Dallas Mavericks
Doncic's next major contract decision can arrive in 2028. ESPN reported that Doncic could opt out that summer and become eligible for a projected five-year, $417 million contract.
What comes next?
The first step is the simplest and hardest: Doncic would have to make himself available. The Lakers still have every advantage, with Doncic under contract and a strong supporting cast. But Los Angeles paid a major price to acquire Walker Kessler, giving Doncic the type of rim-running, defensive center he has often needed.
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| 2026-04-13 | Dallas Mavericks 149-128 Chicago Bulls |
The Mavericks' best chance at a Doncic reunion is not nostalgia, but Cooper Flagg. Quinn pointed to Flagg as the most important basketball reason Dallas could eventually become interesting again. A reunion would only make sense if the Mavericks can offer Doncic a better basketball argument than the Lakers. Flagg gives Dallas the outline of one. If Flagg develops into a franchise-level forward, the Mavericks could sell Doncic on a younger co-star, a cleaner timeline, and a roster with more flexibility than the Lakers may have by 2028.
Recent form: 2W-0D-3L (WWLLL, most recent first); on a 2-game winning run. The Mavericks would need to keep enough flexibility to make a 2028 pursuit possible, whether that means cap room, sign-and-trade paths, matching salary, or tradable contracts. The exact mechanics would depend on the cap, Doncic's choice, and how both rosters look by then. A Doncic return would require the Lakers to stumble, Flagg to rise, Dallas to stay flexible, and old wounds to heal. That is a long list. But it is still possible. The Mavericks must preserve a real path for Doncic's potential return. Dallas also cannot spend the next two years boxing itself in. The harder part is trust. Doncic's exit from Dallas was one of the most stunning trades in NBA history. Quinn noted that some key figures from the decision are gone, including former general manager Nico Harrison and former coach Jason Kidd. Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont remains, and that relationship would matter. A Doncic return would require a lot of factors to come together, but it is not impossible. The Lakers may have spent heavily on an incomplete roster, creating a future risk if Los Angeles cannot convince Doncic it has a championship-level plan. That matters to Dallas because Doncic's next major contract decision can arrive in 2028. The Mavericks will have to wait and see how things play out, but they may get their star player back in the future.