Luka Dončić Lands Record $207 Million Rookie Extension, but a Weak Offseason by the Dallas Mavericks Sends up Warning Signs

-

The NBA Draft Lottery has come and gone and none of the Dallas Mavericks’ picks is yet to sign a contract. It is a bit early to get down on the Mavs just yet, and in all likelihood we will see the organization make a few big trades along the way. But there are some warning signs that we should all be on the lookout for.

Happy New Year, NBA fans! It’s the first day of 2019, and that means a new season is upon us and the big question: how will the best players perform this year? With the basketball season nearly upon us, the hype and mystery is even bigger than usual. This year’s NBA Draft featured a record-breaking number of trades and this year’s rookie class is among the best in NBA history. With so many rookies and other key players still on the market and a new CBA, it’s a big year for basketball.

Luka Doncic may have agreed to a record-breaking rookie contract, but after this offseason he will have to prove that he is worth it. The Mavericks have been hit hard by injuries this summer, and the additions of Doncic, DeAndre Jordan, and Kyle Collinsworth will not be enough to make up for the losses of DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, and Harrison Barnes.. Read more about luka doncic contract and let us know what you think.

The Dallas Mavericks have kept their meal ticket, Luka Doni, which is wonderful news. Even with the poignant ceremony in Slovenia to announce Doni’s record $207 million contract extension, the Mavericks’ lackluster offseason raises doubts.

Don’t get me wrong: Dallas had no choice but to keep Doni past the expiration of his rookie deal. That was accomplished by the Mavericks. The last two seasons, however, have ended with first-round losses to the Los Angeles Clippers. Meanwhile, the roster doesn’t appear to have changed much from the one that failed to win a single home game in a seven-game losing streak to the Clippers.

This isn’t the first offseason in which the Mavs had high hopes for free agency but came up short. Dallas, though, does not want to learn the hard way how quickly a window of contention may close with a young superstar committed for the next six seasons.

Luka Doni became an NBA superstar almost immediately.

Luka Doni, 19, was selected first overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. Trae Young, who is also rising as a great NBA player, was selected by the Atlanta Hawks. In the same way that Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are forever linked, the two will be forever intertwined.

Before entering the NBA, Doni already had some remarkable hardware. He was voted the youngest EuroLeague MVP in history before the draft. Oh, and he also led Real Madrid to their 10th EuroLeague title, a club record. That marks the item “capable of winning” off the list.

While Doni was on his way to Rookie of the Year honors, Dallas missed the playoffs. The Dirk Nowitzki Farewell Tour took place during the 2018–19 season. Doni, on the other hand, has positioned himself as the franchise’s heir apparent and face. In the last two seasons, he’s averaged 28.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game, similar to LeBron James.

But he hasn’t had much assistance. Kristaps Porziis missed the final three games of the Clippers’ playoff loss to Dallas in the 2020 playoffs. He played the entire series last season. With 13.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and a 29.6% 3-point shooting percentage, it almost felt like he wasn’t there.

The Dallas Mavericks were on the verge of landing a superstar.

According to rumours, the Dallas Mavericks were on the verge of acquiring Luka Doni. Going into free agency, they had point guard Kyle Lowry on their radar. Unfortunately for Lowry, he was traded to the Miami Heat. The Mavericks were Lowry’s second choice, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Since Lowry isn’t coming to Dallas, that’s the same as being his last option.

“We’re told the Mavericks came in second to the Heat for Lowry; he was interested in the Mavericks because they were ready to fulfill his price tag, but he preferred playing with (Jimmy) Butler in Miami. According to a source, New Orleans was eager to spend $90 million over three years or more, but Lowry was never interested in doing so. Miami gave Lowry three years and $85 million.”

The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson

Lowry would have been an ideal match to Doni, a seasoned playmaker who could have relieved some of the kid’s creative burden.

So, what does this mean for the Mavericks? They hired a Nike executive to head the front office, hired a coach Doni didn’t want, and signed two free agents who are barely known outside their own homes. Reggie Bullock, a quality veteran role player who shot 41.0 percent from 3-point range for the Knicks, and Sterling Brown, who nailed a career-high 42.3 percent of his long efforts for the Rockets, are the two players in question. They traded Josh Richardson’s contract to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Moses Brown, an intriguing but unproven big man. That’s all there is to it.

To close the deal, the Dallas Mavericks turned to Luka Doni.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban went the extra mile to get Luka Dončić's signature on a contract extension

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban went the extra mile to get Luka Dončić's signature on a contract extension At a news conference, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban (L) and Luka Doni chat. With the Mavericks, Doni agreed to a five-year, $207 million contract deal. | via Getty Images/Luka Dakskobler/SOPA Images/LightRocket

Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, led a delegation to Ljubljana, Slovenia, for the signing. He was accompanied by general manager Nico Harrison and coach Jason Kidd. The franchise’s legend, Nowitzki, was also present.

According to ESPN’s Royce Young, Doni said all the right things about the contract. When you’re signing the NBA’s largest rookie agreement, it’s not hard to do.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thank you, Dallas, for making this opportunity available to me. I’m still at a loss for words because this is something I never expected to happen. I had only dreamed of playing in the NBA, but now I have the opportunity to sign a five-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks, which I never doubted. This is something I’ve always wanted to sign.”

Doni Luka Luka Luka Luka Luka Luka Luka Luka Lu

Luka Doni received exactly what he asked for. The Dallas Mavericks, on the other hand, appear to be entering another another season in which they will only go as far as he can drag them.

Basketball Reference provided the statistics.

RELATED: After signing a $207 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks, J.J. Redick blasts Luka Doni on Twitter for a $1,700 gambling debt.

This article broadly covered the following related topics:

  • luka doncic contract extension
  • luka doncic salary 2021
  • luka doncic contract end
  • luka doncic supermax contract
  • luka doncic rookie contract

Share this article

Recent posts

Popular categories

Recent comments