3toheadmelo wrote:YikesThe Mavericks were motivated to move Doncic because of his constant conditioning concerns, sources told MacMahon. There had been significant frustration within the organization about Doncic's lack of discipline regarding his diet and conditioning, which team sources considered a major factor in his injury issues.
Doncic has been limited to only 22 games this season because of a variety of injuries. He has twice strained his left calf since reporting back to Dallas before training camp in late September, although the Mavs reported the fall injury only as a calf contusion, sources said. Doncic has not played since straining his calf on Christmas Day.Though Doncic was relatively svelte by his standards when he reported to camp, his weight ballooned to the high 260s early this season, sources said. He sat out five games in late November, when the Mavs listed him with a sprained right wrist, an extended absence to allow Doncic to focus on his conditioning. He had a similar early-season layoff in the 2022-23 season.
Seems like damage control/propaganda.
Luka's always had conditioning issues. But he also led them to the Finals just last year - these issues are not franchise-crippling like they are with Zion. This is not a reasonable reason to trade a young superstar for an aging star, with no blue-chip prospect or haul of picks coming back.
This was likely an ownership decision based on dodgy financial reasons or political reasons.
