Rumors: Luka Doncic starting to be more involved in Mavericks personnel decisions

The Dallas Mavericks must upgrade their roster around Luka Doncic if they want to be serious title contenders. They are still fifth in the Western Conference, but the Mavs need more talent to compete with the elite teams. Doncic willed them to the conference finals last season, but he must have more help to take the next step.

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon made waves when he wrote about Luka wanting upgrades before the trade deadline. Doncic and owner Mark Cuban both denied that rumor, but that does not mean things are not changing in Dallas.

Luka did not want to be involved in personnel decisions before this year, but that is changing. MacMahon talked about the difference on the Hoop Collective podcast on Jan. 20, and here is a closer look.

Rumors: Luka Doncic starting to be more involved in personnel decisions

The podcast was focused on the team’s facing the most pressure ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline, and the discussion started in Dallas. Their conference finals appearance raised expectations and losing Jalen Brunson has hurt their roster. During the chat, MacMahon shared the following quote about Doncic.

"Really, the newsworthy thing here is that Luka is starting to be much more involved in the personnel discussions where previously, it has always been like, you can let me know, but I don’t really want to be involved in that. Now, he is starting to be much more involved, and the ideas are not just being bounced off him is my understanding. He’s bouncing some other ideas the other way as well."

Fans can listen to the entire podcast below, but it is noteworthy that Doncic wants to have some say in who he is playing with. The Mavericks have not put enough talent around him, and that needs to change fast if Dallas is going to keep Luka long-term.

Players being involved in personnel decisions does not always work out great. LeBron James masterminded the Russell Westbrook trade for the Lakers, and NBA fans know that has not worked out well.

How much say does Luka Doncic have? Will he be able to help the Dallsa Mavericks front office build a title contender around him? It is something to watch closely as Dallas tries to build their roster, and stay tuned for all the latest.