NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has come out in support of the Dallas Mavericks’ decision to trade star player Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, stating that he believes there were no “ulterior motives” behind the move. Silver met with the media on Friday, just ahead of All-Star Saturday festivities at Chase Center, where he addressed several key topics related to the recent deal.
According to Silver, the Dumont and Adelson families bought the Mavericks’ ownership stakes in order to keep the team in Dallas, and that they are committed to the long-term success of the franchise. He emphasized that the league’s role is not to second-guess the decisions made by individual teams, but rather to provide support and guidance as needed.
Silver also acknowledged the surprise and disappointment among Mavericks fans, who had grown accustomed to Doncic’s dominant play on the court. However, he stressed that his sympathies lie with the Mavericks’ ownership group, whom he believes acted in the best interests of their organization.
The recent trade was a major shock to the league, coming just after the Lakers posted one of their best performances of the season against the New York Knicks. Silver stated that while the event had been anticipated, it ultimately felt “forced” and lost its special magic from last year’s memorable 3-point shooting battle between Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu.
Silver also addressed the issue of rescinded trades, which saw the Lakers initially trade for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams but then withdraw the deal due to a failed physical. He indicated that while such incidents can be disrupting, there is no intention to change league rules regarding deals.
Finally, Silver expressed his satisfaction with the current state of the game, stating that it is “excellent” and that the league is continuing to evolve through a process of listening to criticism from fans, media, and players alike.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43865271/adam-silver-empathetic-mavs-fans-angered-doncic-trade