Mark Cuban Was Upset with Mavs About Luka Doncic-Lakers Trade: 'Get a Better Deal'

One month after the Dallas Mavericks stunned the world by trading Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, former team governor Mark Cuban shared some thoughts about the move.

Appearing on ABC affiliate WFAA in Dallas (starts at 6:30 mark), Cuban said it was on the Mavs to "get a better deal" once they made the decision to move Dončić.

Cuban explained he wasn't trying to disrespect Anthony Davis as the headliner in the deal, but the Mavs should have negotiated for a trade with four unprotected picks on top of Davis and Max Christie.

The full details of the trade saw Dallas receive Davis, Christie and a 2029 first-round draft pick from Los Angeles for Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris. The Utah Jazz were also included in the deal, receiving Jalen Hood-Schifino and two 2025 second-round draft picks.

The Mavericks' entire approach regarding the Dončić trade was baffling. Rather than try to set up a bidding war among the other 29 teams in the NBA, they tried to keep talks as secretive as possible.

The Athletic's Fred Katz, Joe Vardon and Sam Amick reported on Feb. 3 that the Mavs only had "deep negotiations" with the Lakers, though they did call at least one other team to inquire about their interest in swapping Dončić for another star-level player.

Mavs general manager Nico Harrison cited the trade as improving the team's title window for the next three to four seasons, even though they just reached the NBA Finals last season with Dončić as their best player.

Per ESPN's Tim MacMahon (h/t ESPN's Dave McMenamin), the Mavericks had also grown frustrated with Dončić's "discipline regarding his diet and conditioning" that they felt had been a contributing factor in his injury issues.

One problem with Harrison's logic is the age difference between the two central pieces in the deal. Dončić just turned 26 on Feb. 28; Davis will turn 32 on March 11.

Davis has had injury issues throughout his career and has only played one game for Dallas since the trade due to an adductor strain. Dončić has had some durability concerns in his career up to this point, but the combination of his age and incredibly high level of performance through his first seven seasons makes him the type of player you almost never see traded in the NBA.

Dallas' title chances this season seemingly went out the window on Tuesday when it was revealed Kyrie Irving suffered a torn ACL in Monday's loss to the Sacramento Kings.

Irving's injury has led to speculation that Davis could be shut down for the remainder of the season.

Meanwhile, the Lakers are 8-2 with Dončić in the starting lineup and have won eight straight games overall. They have vaulted up to second in the Western Conference standings.

It's safe to assume if Cuban were still in place as Mavs governor, trading Dončić is something that never would have been considered by the organization.