Turns out the fallout from the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade may have reached higher up the ladder in Dallas than originally believed.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, sources around the Mavericks believe former coach Jason Kidd supported the organization’s decision to move Doncic to the Lakers last season.
That probably won’t sit especially well with Mavericks fans, considering how things have gone since.
Dallas has now missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons following the trade, though the franchise did catch a major break by winning the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery and landing Cooper Flagg, who already looks every bit like a future superstar after capturing Rookie of the Year honors.
Kidd and the Mavericks officially parted ways Tuesday after four seasons together. The Hall of Famer guided Dallas to the NBA Finals in 2024 and finished with a 205-205 regular-season record and a 22-18 mark in the playoffs.
New team president Masai Ujiri released a lengthy statement praising Kidd’s leadership while also making it pretty clear the organization believes it needs a reset.
“As we evaluate the future of our basketball program, we believe this is the right moment for a new direction,” Ujiri said.
Meanwhile, Doncic has continued to shine individually in Los Angeles. He led the NBA in scoring during his first full Lakers season before suffering the hamstring injury that ultimately sidelined him for the 2026 playoffs.
Former Mavericks GM Nico Harrison, widely viewed as the driving force behind the trade, already lost his job earlier this season. Now Kidd is out, too.
And fair or not, the Doncic deal continues to cast a shadow over just about everything in Dallas.
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