Mavericks CEO Rick Welts actually went there.
Throughout an invite-only media roundtable Tuesday, Welts and Mavericks GM Nico Harrison stood by their resolution to commerce franchise participant Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis earlier than the February deadline.
That was not stunning — however the instance Welts used as his protection raised eyebrows by some means even increased.
Welts, 71, made waves when he likened the Doncic-Davis blockbuster to earlier offers he helped orchestrate throughout his 47 years as an NBA exec in roles with the Warriors, Suns and Seattle — together with when Golden State traded Monta Ellis for Andrew Bogut in 2012.
“The Golden State Warriors as soon as traded Monta Ellis for Andrew Bogut. Monta Ellis was beloved… Bogut wasn’t going to play that yr, Bogut’s not likely a marketable participant… It acquired higher as a result of that they had a guard named Steph Curry, and Steph Curry got here in and made the whole fanbase love him,” mentioned Welts, who the President and COO of the Warriors throughout their 5 consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 2015-19.
Many noticed it as a lazy and lopsided comparability, as Doncic led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals final yr.
“Clowns in every single place you look in Dallas entrance workplace,” one particular person mentioned on X.
“This has become a sick joke, I’m telling you they’re doing this on goal simply to piss us all off and transfer to Vegas!!!!” one other added.
Ellis and Doncic aren’t practically in the identical stratosphere relating to their accomplishments on the court docket.
Doncic, who was on the middle of NBA MVP conversations throughout a number of seasons, is a five-time All-Star and made the All-NBA first group 5 occasions.
The previous third total decide was the NBA scoring champion final yr and he was the EuroLeague champion and MVP with Actual Madrid in 2018.
Ellis, a second-round draft decide by the Warriors in 2005, was named the NBA Most Improved Participant in 2007.
Davis and Bogut are each bigs, however their stage of play is drastically totally different as compared.
Throughout Tuesday’s press convention, Welts additionally famous that the SuperSonics traded Lenny Wilkens to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Butch Beard, and that Wilkens later returned to Seattle and coached the group to its solely championship in 1979.
Welts, who had most not too long ago labored for Phoenix, additionally recalled the Suns buying and selling Stephon Marbury to the Knicks for cap house in 2004, earlier than they acquired Steve Nash that summer time.
It was the primary time Welts and Harrison addressed the media collectively since Welts was employed by the Mavericks in January.
Harrison reiterated his stance that protection wins championships and mentioned he has no regrets concerning the Doncic commerce, which the Slovenian star and Davis each mentioned they had been blindsided by.
