The Dallas Mavericks are still navigating the aftershocks of one of the most polarizing moves in recent NBA memory - the trade that sent Luka Dončić packing. When team president Nico Harrison dealt away the franchise cornerstone last year, it wasn’t just a roster shakeup - it was a seismic shift in the identity of the organization.
A team once poised to contend suddenly found itself staring down the barrel of a rebuild. And when Anthony Davis was later shipped to Washington, it only cemented what fans already feared: this wasn’t just a retool - it was a full reset.
Now, there may be a twist in the story.
According to a report from Marc Stein, longtime Mavericks figurehead Mark Cuban - who still holds a 27% stake in the team - is exploring a move to buy back the franchise alongside a private investment group. The Mavericks are currently majority-owned by the Adelson family and Patrick Dumont, but Cuban’s potential return to the driver’s seat has sparked renewed hope among a fanbase still reeling from the departure of Dončić.
Cuban, of course, is no stranger to bold declarations. At one point, he famously said he’d rather divorce his wife than trade Luka - a quote that aged about as well as Mavs fans could’ve hoped until the unthinkable happened.
The trade stunned the league and left many questioning the direction of the franchise. Now, with Cuban reportedly looking to regain control, some fans are daring to believe again.
The reactions on social media came in fast and passionate. Some fans are already dreaming of a Luka reunion down the road, with one posting, *“Luka Dončić back in 2028.
Two more years, Mavs fans.” * Another joked, “Bro said lemme get that sh* back before they trade Cooper,”* referencing the team’s promising young guard.
The sentiment was clear: fans believe Cuban is trying to right a wrong.
One comment summed up the fanbase’s collective bewilderment over the past year: *“Mark probably like, ‘I sold my team to them and they traded my best asset away? Like what on earth is going on?’”
- And maybe that’s exactly what’s fueling this potential buyback. Cuban has always been more than just an owner - he’s been the face, voice, and often the emotional pulse of the Mavericks.
His passion for the team has never been in question, and while he stepped away from majority control, it seems the pull to return may be too strong to ignore.
Whether this move ultimately leads to a Luka homecoming is anyone’s guess. But what’s clear is that Cuban’s interest in regaining control is more than just a business decision - it’s a statement. A signal to fans that the Mavericks’ identity, once defined by stability and star power, could be headed back to familiar hands.
There’s still plenty to play out here. But for a fanbase that’s been through the emotional wringer over the past year, the idea of Cuban taking the reins again feels like the first real glimmer of hope in a while.