Overview
- Kidd, speaking Friday, said he had no role in the 2025 Luka Dončić trade and learned of it minutes before it went public around 11 p.m. CT.
- The pushback follows Mark Cuban’s podcast claim that the coach and front office traded “our best player,” and Kidd said he called Cuban right away to address it.
- Since the deal, Dallas has struggled while Dončić leads the NBA in scoring for the Lakers, and the Mavericks entered Friday at 24-52.
- Dallas is rebuilding around No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and is searching for a new head of basketball operations after firing GM Nico Harrison in November.
- Cuban skipped the Mavericks–Magic game Friday but posted a photo of the broadcast on his phone, reflecting his current minority-owner role after selling control in December 2023.