Jazz 'Keeping Very Interested Eye' On Mavs Luka Doncic Trade, Says Ex-NBA Executive
DALLAS — The top priority for the Dallas Mavericks is to build a worthy contending roster around Luka Doncic. If the team continues to fail in doing so, the natural superstar trade cycle will naturally become a growing concern.
If Doncic was to ever request a trade in the future, there will be many teams waiting to use the stockpile of draft picks they've accrued over the years to get a deal done. According to John Hollinger, a former NBA executive and now contributor of The Athletic, the Jazz are "keeping a very interested eye on" Doncic's situation.
"With my spies telling me that Utah in particular is keeping a very interested eye on Luka Doncic’s situation, even the Nets’ kitchen-sink offer for Doncic — the four firsts from Phoenix and one from Philly, plus whatever matching salary not named Bridges is needed to make the deal work — likely falls massively short."
Based on the distribution of future draft assets around the NBA, Hollinger sees the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder as being the only teams with the necessary possible combination of picks to make such a trade. The Jazz own 15 first-round picks outright with a possibility of reaching 16 based on future standings implications.
It's not the first instance that Utah has been linked to Doncic as an interested trade suitor to keep an eye on. A former league executive shared a similar sentiment to NBA Analysis Network in late April.
“There is no telling what the future holds for the Mavs and Luka [Doncic], but teams are swirling like sharks in the water," the former executive said. "The Jazz, in particular, plan to pursue Luka if and when he becomes available.”
As is the case with any team with a superstar, the Mavs must act quickly in order to build a winner around Doncic. Going from the Western Conference Finals to failing to even qualify for the play-in tournament just a season later is a rough slide. Those efforts will begin with attempting to retain impending free agent Kyrie Irving.
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Dallas Mavericks? Click Here.
Follow DallasBasketball.com on Twitter and Facebook.
Follow Grant Afseth on Twitter.
