Part 5/7:
The history of player movement in the NBA shows that franchises receive substantial returns for star players, as seen with Kevin Durant’s departure from Brooklyn. To receive what amounts to a second-tier player and a future first round pick in return for a 25-year-old superstar is seen as a failure in talent management. The lack of prior communication about Dončić’s potential availability suggests the Mavericks didn’t fully explore all their options, which could have yielded significantly better offers.