Drama surrounding the Dallas Mavericks’ trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers over a year ago continues to unfold. The trade, which occurred in the middle of the night, was previously attributed largely to then-General Manager Nico Harrison’s decision-making.

Cuban Reveals Kidd's Involvement

However, Mark Cuban recently refuted the notion that Harrison acted alone. Speaking on the “Intersections” podcast, Cuban stated that Jason Kidd also played a role in the trade. “I think there was animosity between our former general manager and some people on Luka’s team, his agent, some people that worked around them. I don’t think they got along,” Cuban explained. He further added, “I think there were issues that J-Kidd coached with Anthony Davis and was close to him, and Nico was close to AD.”

Cuban acknowledged the presence of confirmation bias, but stressed, “That doesn’t justify it for our coach and general manager to stand up and trade our best player.”

Kidd Responds to Cuban's Claims

Jason Kidd addressed Cuban’s comments on Tuesday, prior to the Mavericks’ game against the Milwaukee Bucks. He appeared reluctant to dwell on the past. “We have to move forward,” Kidd stated. “We’re focused on the present and the future, and we’ve got an incredible opportunity to build.”

Focus on the Future

Kidd continued, expressing confidence in the team’s ability to rebuild and the support of the Mavericks fanbase. “I truly believe the Mavs fans have built before and will build again. And we want them to be a part of this build,” he said. He also emphasized his faith in current owner Patrick Dumont, stating, “I think we have a great owner in Patrick, and he’s going to give us every resource to build a championship team.”

Acknowledging his history with Cuban, Kidd added, “Out of respect to Cuban, he helped me and my family. We won a championship together. The two owners will figure it out. I truly believe that we have to focus on the present and the future. We’ve got a great opportunity.”

Mavericks' Recent Performance

The Mavericks have missed the playoffs in three of Jason Kidd’s five seasons as head coach. Both playoff appearances were heavily reliant on the performance of Luka Doncic, widely regarded as one of the NBA’s most potent offensive players. The team’s current struggles highlight the impact of losing Doncic, as they are now focused on a new “build.”