is there now a pathway for Luka to return to the Mavericks in the future

druggas · Post #41 » by **druggas** » Tue Nov 11, 2025 7:14 pm

He'd be crazy yo leave the flagship of the NBA.

Baz · Post #42 » by **Baz** » Tue Nov 11, 2025 7:20 pm

ryguy613 wrote:
Baz wrote:
ryguy613 wrote:
that doesnt necessarily help your case. Bron went back to his home team after leaving on his own terms, doing what he set out to do by leaving, and with the mindset that he still wanted to win one for Cleveland.

Luka did not leave on his own terms. Its very clear he feels betrayed by the organization, and he has reason to feel that way. they shoved him out the door like he was a pile of trash. Do you think thats an easy thing to get over? Go through all of the reunion stories you can think of... CP3 back to the Clippers... Dame back to the Blazers... none of them started with a breakup like this, where the player wanted to stay, and the team surprised him in the dead of night, then trashed him incessantly on the way out, and in the following months. Im not saying it CANT happen, but its not something Id bank on.

Thats why your "theyre on a break. its not a breakup" argument doesnt really hold water. The way this trade happened was 100% one-sided breakup vibes.

I agree with all of that. My line of thought comes from the prospect of ownership being different, in which case I don't understand why he wouldn't consider going back if none of the people responsible for what happened are around anymore?

in this hypothetical situation, it would really depend on a number of variables we cant really account for right now. As the years go by will Doncic have a longing to be in Dallas, or will the initial burn end up cauterizing that all together. In order to believe this would happen with an ownership change, youd have to be confident that Luka is waiting for a situation that allows him to return. I dont really know thatll be the case... maybe, but maybe not. Also we dont know what kind of career Luka will end up having with LA. An up and down tenure there could help push him to feel nostalgic for his original NBA home, but on the other hand, a successful tenure might cement his mindset that LA is his home. We just dont know. His career has a ton of what ifs.

But for any of that to even be a remote possibility youd need ownership change, which is a big hurdle in and of itself. Maybe you're more plugged into the situation than i am (probably true as a Mavs fan) but I havent heard anything about plans to sell. didnt he just get there?

I doubt they will sell. My hope is that the fans continue to revolt until they're gone though. The fans deserve better than this ownership group and it's hard to be excited about Flagg and the future while they're around continuing to rot the franchise with their incompetence and/or corruption.

xb3at band1tx · Post #43 » by **xb3at band1tx** » Tue Nov 11, 2025 7:20 pm

Luka and Jokic are old school in that they are loyal as hell to their franchises.

I don't see him leaving LA after they took him in after that shocking trade debacle.

He doesn't owe dallas anything.

Baz · Post #44 » by **Baz** » Tue Nov 11, 2025 7:25 pm

xb3at band1tx wrote:Luka and Jokic are old school in that they are loyal as hell to their franchises.

I don't see him leaving LA after they took him in after that shocking trade debacle.

He doesn't owe dallas anything.

No, he doesn't owe Dallas anything. But it's undeniable that he's well loved in Dallas and he loves the fans there. You will see anytime he goes into that arena they will cheer him like crazy and it will be emotional every time for him. We know he's emotional and takes things to heart. If the circumstances allowed for it and the owners were different, I could see him considering it, even if it was just to go there and retire. But we'll see!

benson13 · Post #45 » by **benson13** » Tue Nov 11, 2025 7:44 pm

LA is way more fun than Dallas.

MavsDirk41 · Post #46 » by **MavsDirk41** » Tue Nov 11, 2025 8:22 pm

Optms wrote:
Baz wrote:
knicksfan974 wrote:Luka will retire as a Laker and become a legend in LA. Next question?

LeBron went back to his city and he chose to leave in the first place. Luka didn't want to leave his city.

Lebron left Miami because he didn't have the power to oversee Riley and Spo. Lakers belong to Luka. He is running the show. He's not going anywhere. Meanwhile Dallas has zero direction now and are in freefall towards irrelevancy.

Lol James left Miami because he saw greener grass in Cleveland…..22 year old all star and a 1st round pick to trade for another all star so he could put together another Big 3.

Dallas has an 18 year old star in Flagg they will clean house and build around him.

levon · Post #47 » by **levon** » Tue Nov 11, 2025 8:26 pm

Baz wrote:
levon wrote:
Baz wrote:
LeBron went back to his city and he chose to leave in the first place. Luka didn't want to leave his city.

LeBron was born in Akron and Cleveland was a hometown story, plus there was the "first title" angle and the fact that the Cavs were positioned to contend. Was Luka born in Fort Worth?

Do you have to be born in a place for it to be your home? Sure, it's hardly Slovenia to him, but you can't doubt his connection to Dallas.

We're connected to a lot of places in formative years, but LeBron spent the first 25 years of his life in Ohio, literally all of his formative years. It's not even close. He has said he'd love to retire with Madrid. We'll see if he gives the Adelsons any more years of his career. He loves Dallas but let's not make him some stunted sentimental dope.

Edrees · Post #48 » by **Edrees** » Tue Nov 11, 2025 8:27 pm

Mavs need a new owner before that's even a possibility. Owner signed off on trading luka. you think Luka will just let that go? :banghead:

ALl Mark walter has to tell luka is "I would never trade you like Dumont did, he didn't value you" and it's done.

p0peye · Post #49 » by **p0peye** » Tue Nov 11, 2025 10:58 pm

Baz wrote:
p0peye wrote:A guy that was practically in tears when only team he wanted to play for traded him during the night, without a heads up? Sure, I see no reason why he wouldn't return now that Mavs are in shambles and Lakers seem to be contending.

* in the future *

Nothing says 'come back to me' quite like denying someone $70 million a year.

Post #50 » by **G R E Y** » Tue Nov 11, 2025 11:11 pm

Return to the owner who publicly called you fat and not someone to build around like the disciplined Shaq?

Not hardly.

California Gold · Post #51 » by **California Gold** » Tue Nov 11, 2025 11:11 pm

LeBron was FROM Ohio. I think he had a deeper connection with the Cavs than Luka does with the city of Dallas. Could he return at some point? Sure but I honestly don't think he will unless either the Lakers screw it up or he somehow decides he doesn't want to remain in LA. So far though I don't see that happening.

Mark Walter is the Lakers new majority owner, you can bet everything you've got that he's going to do whatever it takes to make sure Luka is happy and comfortable. That's what the whole Lakers brand is about. The Mavs did the opposite to Luka.

nomansland · Post #52 » by **nomansland** » Tue Nov 11, 2025 11:21 pm

Only if the Mavs are sold to another ownership group.

Yuri36 · Post #53 » by **Yuri36** » Tue Nov 11, 2025 11:27 pm

druggas wrote:He'd be crazy yo leave the flagship of the NBA.

Not to mention leaving LA for Dallas...cause with all respect I have for Dallas as a city, I guess LA will always be a far more attractive city and even more so for young rich people who love what is shining, which clearly seems to be Luka's case.

BigGargamel · Post #54 » by **BigGargamel** » Tue Nov 11, 2025 11:29 pm

I'm so sorry for Mavs fans but that ship has sailed. The Lakers and the NBA are going to make sure Luka stays there for life. It's too perfect for everyone involved.

xb3at band1tx · Post #55 » by **xb3at band1tx** » Tue Nov 11, 2025 11:29 pm

Edrees wrote:Mavs need a new owner before that's even a possibility. Owner signed off on trading luka. you think Luka will just let that go?

ALl Mark walter has to tell luka is "I would never trade you like Dumont did, he didn't value you" and it's done.

Yeah, that Dallas ownership is rotten to the core.

I guess I can understand mavs fans celebrating and pining for any kind of hope but it all starts at the top and those people are still there.

pustoolio · Post #56 » by **pustoolio** » Tue Nov 11, 2025 11:31 pm

His last pro team will probably be Real Madrid and he will retire from basketball in an international tournamente with Slovenia.

Yes, I can see the future.

Post #57 » by **HMFFL** » Wed Nov 12, 2025 3:29 am

knicksfan974 wrote:Luka will retire as a Laker and become a legend in LA. Next question?

This!

Luka seems to be in a good place now. Physically, mentally, and overall.

doogie_hauser · Post #58 » by **doogie_hauser** » Wed Nov 12, 2025 5:19 am

Wouldn't have thought so. Nico wasn't the only one in The Mavs organisation who wanted Luka out.

doogie_hauser · Post #59 » by **doogie_hauser** » Wed Nov 12, 2025 5:22 am

HMFFL wrote:
knicksfan974 wrote:Luka will retire as a Laker and become a legend in LA. Next question?
This!

Luka seems to be in a good place now. Physically, mentally, and overall.

I would argue that right Luka is in the best physical shape of his career and The Lakers are reaping the dividends.

Question is, did The Mavs themselves mismanage Luka and his weight and physical conditioning rather than the other way around ?

It has to be galling for Dallas fans but Luka hasn't looked this happy and vibrant on court since his rookie season.

Post #60 » by **HMFFL** » Wed Nov 12, 2025 5:26 am

doogie_hauser wrote:
HMFFL wrote:
knicksfan974 wrote:Luka will retire as a Laker and become a legend in LA. Next question?
This!

Luka seems to be in a good place now. Physically, mentally, and overall.

I would argue that right Luka is in the best physical shape of his career and The Lakers are reaping the dividends.

Question is, did The Mavs themselves mismanage Luka and his weight and physical conditioning rather than the other way around ?

It has to be galling for Dallas fans but Luka hasn't looked this happy and vibrant on court since his rookie season.

LA gave him a different perspective. One that Dallas could never do. I am happy for Luka as long as he's happy so I agree with you that he seems very happy.