NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addresses the controversial Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis trade by stating, “Time will tell whether it was a smart trade.” He acknowledges the emotional turmoil felt by Dallas Mavericks fans, two weeks after the shocking deal.
Silver believes that the Mavericks are convinced their choice to trade Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Davis was, in their view, the most beneficial decision for the franchise’s future.
During his annual address at the All-Star weekend, Silver expressed his surprise at the trade, confirming he had no prior knowledge of it. He refrained from criticizing the Mavericks’ decision, instead emphasizing their commitment to their team’s success.
“I can say one thing for sure: Whether or not history will ultimately judge this as a smart trade, they did what they thought was in the best interest of their organization,” Silver stated. He expressed confidence in the Dumont-Adelson families’ intentions to keep the team in Dallas, highlighting their dedication to the franchise’s long-term success.
The trade involving Doncic and Davis sent ripples throughout the NBA, marking a significant moment as it was the first mid-season trade involving All-NBA players. The backlash from Mavericks fans over trading a 25-year-old superstar and global icon remains palpable.
“I’m empathetic,” Silver remarked. “I understand it.”
Victor Wembanyama, a rising star with the San Antonio Spurs, also empathizes with the Mavericks’ supporters, despite being part of a rival team.
“What really strikes me is how the Mavs’ fans are hurting, how they feel,” Wembanyama expressed. “It’s really something that I think was a very strong emotion. But otherwise, I think the Mavs are still contenders. The Lakers are contenders. It’s very competitive. They traded for very good players. … But two weeks after, it’s still the craziest trade I’ve ever seen.”
Compounding the disappointment for some Dallas fans is the fact that Davis suffered an injury in his first game with the Mavericks, adding to the team’s current struggles with player health.
“Time will tell whether it was a smart trade,” Silver reiterated. “But they should believe in their organization.”
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In other topics addressed by Silver on Saturday:
Details on why Steph vs. Sabrina II didn’t happen
Last year’s All-Star Saturday featured an exciting 3-point contest between Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu.
Fans anticipated a rematch in 2025, but Silver explained that the event may have been too exceptional to replicate.
“Last year was so magical, that competition, that it started to feel forced. And I think there was concern from all of us that we just weren’t feeling it,” Silver noted.
Timberwolves’ sale to A-Rod, Lore
Following an arbitration ruling regarding the ownership transfer of the Minnesota Timberwolves to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, Silver indicated that the league is awaiting the next steps.
“My expectation is that will move forward. But first, Glen Taylor does have a decision to make as to whether to appeal that arbitration decision,” Silver stated. “I mean, that’s Glen’s decision to make. I haven’t talked to him directly about that. I think, though, that A-Rod, certainly Marc Lore, are well-known to the league at this point. They’ve already been vetted and approved as minority owners.”
Silver expressed optimism regarding the sale’s approval but refrained from presuming the Board of Governors’ final decision.
Rescinded Hornets-Lakers trade
A week after a trade between the Charlotte Hornets and the Lakers fell through due to Hornets center Mark Williams’ physical results, Silver confirmed that the Hornets have not filed a formal appeal with the league.
The Lakers opted to rescind the trade.
“Let’s see what Charlotte decides to do here,” Silver advised. “But I think either way, it’s gotten our attention. We understand that in the back and forth of teams and trades that the extent we can reduce uncertainty, that’s a positive thing.”
TV ratings
The NBA acknowledges that their television ratings have not met expectations, but Silver views the situation as improving.
“I’ll begin with the state of our ratings right now as they’re conventionally measured,” Silver explained. “They’re slightly down from last season. We had some weakness early in the season. We rebounded. The ratings are heading up right now. So, I see that as very positive.”
The NBA also monitors social media engagement, which is at an all-time high, according to Silver. He noted that traditional TV ratings do not fully capture the interest generated by podcasts and other new media platforms.
“Now, how do you blend all those things together? I think that’s the really tough question,” Silver concluded.
