The Dallas Mavericks are in the midst of an incredible transformation. In 2018, the team looked like it was just beginning a long rebuild. Mavericks GOAT Dirk Nowitzki was 39 and entering his final season. Dennis Smith Jr. had a promising rookie year, but turning into a superstar seemed unlikely. The Mavs needed that pillar to start climbing back up the ladder.
That is when the front office pulled off the bold move of trading for Luka Doncic. How he slipped to the third pick is still baffling. Donnie Nelson and company wasted little time after Luka arrived in Dallas.