The Dallas Mavericks shocked the world last season, and they might be facing the consequences of that in 2026.
Last season, the Mavericks made one of the most shocking moves in sports history when they sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Less than a year after Doncic led the franchise to the NBA Finals, Dallas chose to cut ties with the Slovenian star.
While Nico Harrison’s vision of a team built around Anthony Davis has a chance to prove some doubters wrong, Doncic also has an opportunity to make some noise next season. While Dallas has moved on from Doncic, the former Mavericks star might be ready to prove himself in 2026.
A mistake for the ages?
Considering all of the craziness of last season’s trade, Doncic never had a chance to truly get comfortable in Los Angeles, which is a key reason why Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes expects him to bounce back next season. Predicting him to be the Lakers’ “riser” next season, Hughes noted that Doncic’s slimming and the shock of last season’s deal make 2025-26 a perfect storm for him to bounce back.
Considering the MVP-level numbers Doncic has put up in Dallas over the past few years, it’s hard to argue that he should be in for a resurgence next season. While it would be a hard pill for the Mavericks to swallow, it feels almost inevitable that Doncic will make Dallas regret its decision to send him to Los Angeles.
With the Lakers also expecting to be in title contention, there’s a chance that Doncic could even get the last laugh against his former team in a postseason setting.
