Dallas Mavericks made the shocking decision to trade Luka Doncic to Los Angeles Lakers before the deadline earlier in the season – a step that is likely to haunt the team’s fanbase in the years to come.

Maverick’s General Manager Nico Harrison’s response to trade has not been well with anyone who enjoys NBA or is fans of the team. On Monday, Harrison again turned the trade again after the team’s playoff hopes were stabbed in the play-in tournament.

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“I knew Luka was important to the fan base,” Harrison told a small group of journalists. “I didn’t quite know it to what level.”

Lakers’ Doncic acquisition reused the team’s NBA championship chances. He average 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 28 games for Lakers.

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Nico Harrison, Mavericks’ general manager, sees the team playing against Toronto Raptors in Dallas, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/LM OTERO)

Harrison said he expected criticism from the trade, but thought it would have died before if Anthony Davis was able to play more with Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, PJ Washington and Derck Lively II. Davis suffered an injury in the first game he played for Dallas. Irving also suffered a season -ending injury.

“We feel it is a championship scale team and we would have won at a high level and it would have put some of the outrage,” he added. “And then, unfortunately, we were unable to do it, so it just continued to continue and continue.”

Minnesota Timberwolves Forward Jaden McDaniels reaches the Lakers guard Luka Doncic during their playoffs in the first round on Saturday, April 19, 2025 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The story will determine how the trade will eventually be seen. But Lakers, who added Doncic to an aging LeBron James, was definitely the best idea for their future.