Luka Doncic is gone from Dallas, but the Mavericks still have a reason to keep one eye on Los Angeles.
That’s the basic takeaway from a recent ESPN report that poured a little more fuel on the dream of a future Doncic reunion with the Mavericks. Since Doncic was traded to the Lakers in February of 2025, plenty of Dallas fans have been holding onto the idea that he could one day find his way back. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon didn’t call that outcome likely, but he did make clear that the door isn’t slammed shut.
"He's done nothing but express optimism and excitement about the Lakers since he signed that extension," MacMahon said regarding Doncic on a recent episode of "The Hoop Collective". "But it's not that long-term of an extension, and you better believe there's teams around the league that are looking at that situation and saying, 'Hey, if this thing goes sideways, we'd sure like to get Luka in the midway through his prime.'"
The timing matters. Doncic can become an unrestricted free agent as soon as the 2028 offseason if he turns down his $57.4 million player option for the 2028-29 season. He’ll also be eligible to sign another extension with the Lakers next year, which means the next season or two should tell a lot about where this is headed.
Los Angeles did not exactly sit still this summer. The Lakers signed-and-traded for Walker Kessler, brought in former Maverick Quentin Grimes, and added Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton, Ziaire Williams, Kevon Looney, Mattise Thybulle, and another former Maverick, Jaden Hardy. They also changed ownership for the second time in the last year.
The hope in Los Angeles is obvious: build enough around Doncic to chase a championship now that LeBron James is gone. But around the league, there are real questions about whether the roster is strong enough for that kind of push in a stacked Western Conference. On paper, the Lakers look short on perimeter defense, unless they have a much bigger role in mind for a player like Thybulle, who has been starved offensively.
That’s where the Mavericks’ interest comes back into focus. Dallas doesn’t need a miracle right away; it just needs the Lakers situation to wobble.
If injuries pile up or the defense sends Los Angeles into another first- or second-round exit, Doncic could become unhappy and put any future extension talks on ice. That would open the kind of window Dallas has been waiting for.
If Doncic ever returned to the Mavericks as a free agent in 2028, the move would land with the kind of shock that can only be compared to LeBron James going back to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014. Dallas would be bringing him home in the middle of his prime, this time to play alongside Cooper Flagg, and the sting of Nico Harrison’s decision to trade him would at least be partly eased.
Still, nothing about this is close to happening yet. For now, Doncic is in Los Angeles, the Lakers are trying to build around him, and the Mavericks are left watching the situation unfold from afar.
There’s a chance, sure. But right now, it’s exactly what it sounds like: a shot in the dark.
In Other News...
Klay Thompson's Next Move Says Everything About Dallas' Sudden Reset
Klay Thompsons next stop is now official, and it tells the story of how quickly the league can move once a familiar name hits the market. After clearing waivers, Thompson agreed to a two-year deal with the Miami Heat, where he is expected to slot into the starting lineup in the coming season. For a player whose rsum still carries championship weight, the fit in Miami says as much about the Heats ambitions as it does about Thompsons ability to stay a useful piece at this stage of his career.
Pat Riley made clear why the signing mattered, pointing to Thompsons veteran presence and championship pedigree as reasons he belongs in the mix. The contract structure also gives both sides some flexibility as Miami looks ahead, with Thompson set up for a role that could extend beyond a simple stopgap. For Dallas, it is another reminder of how fast the roster picture can change, and how the decisions around familiar faces can reshape the conversation almost overnight. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Just Opened A Backcourt Opportunity One Young Shooter Could Seize
A roster squeeze has turned into a little breathing room for Dallas, and the ripple effect could be felt quickly in the backcourt. With the Mavericks now down to the 15-player limit, the rotation suddenly has a cleaner path for younger guards and wings to earn real minutes, especially a player like Tarik Biberovic, whose shooting gives him a clear niche on a team that can always use more spacing.
The opening is one thing, but the harder part is turning it into an actual role. Dallas will be looking for someone to claim those extra possessions and prove he can stay on the floor, and Biberovic now has a better chance than before to make his case in a backcourt that just became a lot less crowded. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Still Have One Roster Problem They Cant Ignore
The Mavericks have done most of the heavy lifting on their offseason roster, but the one area still staring them in the face is the backcourt. With Kyrie Irving already in place and Marcus Sasser and rookie Sergio de Larrea behind him, Dallas does not look like a team that can comfortably navigate the start of camp without adding more guard help.
So the front office is still weighing options as the calendar turns toward training camp, and the urgency is obvious. The team has been linked to possible additions who could change the shape of the rotation, but the bigger question remains how Dallas plans to shore up a group that feels short on proven depth before the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]