Firings, 'cheerleader energy' and lost trust: What really led to the Luka Doncic trade

As the Dallas Mavericks' season came to a close, a shocking trade sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. But the reasons behind the move go far beyond just a simple swap. ESPN has learned that a toxic combination of firings, power struggles, and lost trust ultimately led to the trade.

It all began in August 2023, when the Mavericks flew to Springfield, Massachusetts, to celebrate the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction of Dirk Nowitzki. General manager Nico Harrison, director of health and performance Casey Smith, and others made the trip, but little did they know that the celebration would mark the beginning of the end for the franchise.

Smith, who had been with the Mavericks for nearly two decades, was blindsided when Harrison informed him that his services were no longer needed. The reason for the dismissal? Smith was deemed "too negative," according to sources briefed on the discussion. Harrison saw Smith as a threat to his own authority, and the two had a rocky relationship.

The firing of Smith was just the beginning. The Mavericks went on to dismiss athletic performance director Jeremy Holsopple and manual therapist Casey Spangler in June, just days after the NBA Finals. These long-time employees had helped Doncic adjust to the NBA and had become confidantes for the superstar.

Harrison, however, saw them as "enablers" of Doncic, and the new general manager wanted to assert his control over the franchise. Sources close to the situation say that Harrison's decision to fire these employees was a power play, and it ultimately drove a wedge between the Mavericks and their biggest stars.

The consequences of these firings were immediate and far-reaching. The Mavericks' medical staff, led by director of player health and performance Johann Bilsborough and athletic performance director Keith Belton, struggled to keep up with the demands of the season. The team was plagued by injuries, and the handling of these injuries became a major point of contention.

DERECK LIVELY II, a 21-year-old center, was listed as questionable on Jan. 20 due to a right ankle sprain. But under Belton's supervision, Lively went through an intense return-to-play workout before sitting out again that night. Bilsborough had concerns, prompting him to send Lively for a CT scan, which revealed a stress fracture in his right ankle. The incident led to a heated confrontation between Bilsborough and Belton, with some sources describing the argument as "loud and intense."

The situation was a symptom of a much larger problem. The Mavericks' medical staff was struggling to adapt to the new regime, and the team was paying the price. Doncic, who had grown close to Smith and the other fired employees, was said to be unhappy with the direction of the franchise. Dirk Nowitzki, the franchise's all-time leading scorer, had also distanced himself from the team after Smith's departure.

In the end, the trade of Luka Doncic was a result of a combination of factors, including the firings, power struggles, and lost trust. The Mavericks' season may have ended in disappointment, but the real story is one of dysfunction and discord behind the scenes.