Don Nelson doesn't hold back on Mavericks' ‘tremendous mistake' of trading Luka Doncic
The post Don Nelson doesn't hold back on Mavericks' 'tremendous mistake' of trading Luka Doncic appeared first on ClutchPoints.
In the history of the Dallas Mavericks franchise, former head coach Don Nelson was instrumental in establishing them as a consistent playoff team in the early 2000s. Nelson helped unlock Dirk Nowitzki and helped shape him into the greatest player in franchise history. Being one of the best offensive innovators in league history, Nelson is certainly deserving of winning the 2025 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, the winner of which was announced earlier today.
Advertisement
Suffice to say, the Mavericks franchise wouldn't be where they are today without Nelson's contributions. This is why Nelson is disappointed more than ever on the current state of the team. While the Mavs recently won the first overall pick, putting them in position to draft Cooper Flagg as some sort of mulligan for the biggest mistake in franchise history, Nelson isn't pleased whatsoever with their decision to trade away Luka Doncic back in February.
'I think it was a tremendous mistake for the Dallas franchise to trade him — and I want everybody to know that,' Nelson said in his press conference prior to Game 2 of the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder's NBA Finals clash.
Nelson has formed a close relationship with Doncic, so it's not exactly a huge surprise to see him to go to bat for his guy. And it's not like Nelson's sentiment is unpopular; the Mavericks continue to be widely chastised for their egregious decision to let go of Doncic without making it known to the whole league — which could have drummed up a major bidding war.
Advertisement
Over four months have passed since the Mavericks shocked the world, and there are times where it still doesn't feel real that Doncic is now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Only time will tell if the Mavs end up being right, but this trade is viewed as a disaster for a very good reason.
Mavericks hope for a quick turnaround
© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
At the very least, all hope is not lost for the Mavericks. They have an incredible collection of talent in the frontcourt; Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and PJ Washington comprise their impressive core. And they're (presumably) about to add Flagg to the mix.
Advertisement
All the Mavericks need is for Kyrie Irving to return to full strength and for them to bolster their backcourt, re-balancing the roster by perhaps trading a few of their big men in exchange for some guard help.
Related: Don Nelson reveals 'favorite player' in 1998 NBA Draft and it's not Dirk
Related: Mavericks rumors: Tim MacMahon reveals 'feasible' Jason Kidd scenario amid Knicks' interest
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bobby Portis reportedly returning to Bucks on $44M contract amid offseason of uncertainty in Milwaukee
Bobby Portis will sign a three-year, $44 million contract to return to the Milwaukee Bucks, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Sunday. Portis, 30, previously had a $13.4 million player option for the upcoming season that he declined. He was eligible for free agency. His new contract has a player option for the 2027-28 season, according to the report. Advertisement Portis joined the Bucks prior to the 2020-21 season and has been a valuable contributor since, including during their run to the 2021 NBA championship. Portis has 99 starts in his five seasons with the Bucks, but has primarily been utilized as Milwaukee's sixth man. Bobby Portis has been one of the league's best sixth men since joining the Bucks. () (Steven Ryan via Getty Images) Portis was limited to 49 games in 2024-25 primarily due to a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA's anti-drug program. Portis' agent contended that Portis thought he was taking approved pain medication Toradol, but instead took Tramadol, which is banned by the league. Portis returned before the end of the season and for the playoffs. He averaged 13.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 46.6% from the floor and 36.5% from 3 as Milwaukee's top scorer and rebounder off the bench. He was second on the team in rebounds only to Giannis Antetokounmpo. Advertisement Portis rejoins the Bucks amid an offseason of uncertainty. All-Star guard Damian Lillard suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the playoffs that's expected to sideline him for most, if not all of the 2025-26 season. Lillard's injury has further diminished Milwaukee's hopes of contending next season and raised questions about Antetokounmpo's future in Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo has been the subject of trade rumors, but remains on the Bucks in the aftermath of the NBA Draft on the eve of the start of free agency negotiations around the league.
Washington Post
29 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Reds rally to beat Padres 3-2 on Will Benson's bases-loaded single in the 9th
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati's Will Benson hit a bases-loaded single off San Diego closer Robert Suarez in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday to lift the Reds to a 3-2 victory. Cincinnati's Elly De La Cruz led off the ninth with an infield single that originally was scored an error by Padres third baseman Tyler Wade.
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
A's reliever Tyler Ferguson allows homer to Aaron Judge after saying he wanted to strike out slugger
New York Yankees' Aaron Judge hits a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, June 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) NEW YORK (AP) — Tyler Ferguson graduated from Clovis West High School in Fresno when Aaron Judge batted .308 as a sophomore at Fresno State in 2012. Toward the end of last season after making his debut with the Athletics following nine seasons in the minor leagues, Tyler Ferguson said to a local TV station he wanted to strike out Judge about a month before the Yankees' final trip to Oakland. Advertisement He finally had his chance Sunday. Ferguson was one strike away in his first matchup with Judge. Instead, Ferguson became the 260th pitcher to allow a homer to the slugger, who hit a two-run drive in the seventh inning of the Yankees' 12-5 win. 'I don't remember much honestly, unfortunately' said Ferguson, the only active player born in Fresno. 'I didn't go to a lot of Fresno State games, but I just remember him being a highly touted prospect and obviously a large human being very recognizable but it's impressive how he's continued to just get better and better as he's gotten older.' Ferguson got ahead in the count 1-2 with a sweeper before Judge fouled off a sinker and a four-seam fastball. After throwing a sinker and a sweeper out of the strike zone to get a full count, Judge hit the 31-year-old right-hander's 95.5 mph four-seam fastball into the A's bullpen in left-center. Advertisement 'First time facing him, best hitter in the league,' Ferguson said. 'So I was looking forward to that at-bat. I was able to get ahead and then wasn't able to execute a couple of pitches and he was able to get it back to 3-2 and I didn't get the ball quite as high as I would have liked and he made a good swing on it.' "I didn't (know that),' Judge said of Ferguson's comment. 'I'm learning that as you told me.' Ferguson turned around and watched the 426-foot drive as YES Network play-by-play announcer Ryan Ruocco proclaimed: 'The King of Fresno." 'That's why you don't talk in public,' YES Network analyst and former reliever Jeff Nelson said on the telecast. 'You don't make a comment that I want to strike out Judge in public. You keep it to yourself.' Advertisement Judge reached 30 homers for the fifth straight season and fourth time before All-Star break. He also became the sixth player in team history with six 30-homer seasons and the joined Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio as the third Yankee with six 30-homer seasons within the first 10 years of his career. Ferguson debuted with the A's May 7, 2024, but had made two scoreless appearances against the Yankees before Judge homered. Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the sixth round in 2015 out of Vanderbilt, Ferguson never advanced above Single-A with Texas and spent 2019 playing independent baseball in Quebec. After being released by the Dodgers in 2020 when the minor league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ferguson joined the Braves following a brief stint with the Chicago Dogs of the American Association of Professional Baseball. Ferguson reached Triple-A with the Braves, signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks after the 2022 season and spent 2023 with the Reno Aces. The A's signed him to a minor league contract in Nov. 2023 and called him up after 14 games with Triple-A Las Vegas. Advertisement 'It was about nine, 10 years in the minors between when I got drafted to when I made my debut last year,' Ferguson said. 'So it was a long ride, but happy to be here and just trying to get better and trying not to give up (home runs) and make better pitches.' ___ AP MLB:
