Mark Cuban Regrets Hiring Mavericks GM Who Traded Luka Doncic

The former Mavericks owner laments the disastrous trade that sent the superstar to the Lakers.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 2:25pm

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Mark Cuban, the former majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, has expressed regret over hiring Nico Harrison as the team's general manager. Harrison made the controversial decision to trade star player Luka Doncic, a move that is widely considered one of the worst trades in sports history. Cuban says he never would have approved the trade if he were still in control of the franchise.

Why it matters

The Doncic trade has haunted the Mavericks franchise, as they have struggled to rebuild and recapture the success they had with the young superstar. Cuban's admission highlights the lasting impact of the decision and the challenges the team faces moving forward.

The details

Shortly after Cuban sold his majority stake in the Mavericks, the new ownership allowed GM Nico Harrison to trade Doncic to the Lakers. The trade brought back Anthony Davis, who has since been traded away. Cuban says he was unaware the trade was finalized when Harrison informed him about it, thinking he was asking for approval rather than informing him of a done deal.

  • In March 2026, Mark Cuban appeared on The Adam Friedland Show and discussed the Doncic trade.
  • Cuban sold his majority ownership of the Mavericks just months before the team made the NBA Finals in the 2022-23 season.

The players

Mark Cuban

The former majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, who has expressed regret over hiring the GM who traded away star player Luka Doncic.

Nico Harrison

The current general manager of the Dallas Mavericks, who made the controversial decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Lakers, a move that is widely considered one of the worst trades in sports history.

Luka Doncic

The former star player of the Dallas Mavericks, who was traded to the Lakers in a move that has haunted the franchise.

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What they’re saying

“We were having a beer, and I got a text from our General Manager, and he's like give me a call.”

— Mark Cuban (The Adam Friedland Show)

“When he told me about it, I thought he was asking me as opposed to telling me. Then he was like, 'No, it's done.' What the f—. And that was it.”

— Mark Cuban (The Adam Friedland Show)

What’s next

The Mavericks are currently tanking this season in hopes of getting lucky in the draft lottery for the second year in a row, as they look to rebuild the team around a new young star.

The takeaway

The Luka Doncic trade will forever haunt the Dallas Mavericks franchise, and Mark Cuban's regret over hiring the GM who made the deal highlights the lasting impact of one of the worst trades in sports history.