Ranking 5 Luka Doncic blockbuster trades the Mavericks should have made

In just over seven hours, Dallas Mavericks fans will witness the biggest regular-season game in franchise history.

Luka Doncic is returning to the American Airlines Center for the first time as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, and the atmosphere inside is bound to be chaotic, considering how angry the fan base is about the trade. Mavs fans will never get over Nico Harrison's decision to trade Doncic in the middle of the night on a Saturday in February, less than a year after he led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals, and Harrison's logic behind the move doesn't make much sense.

One of the most ridiculous parts about the trade is the fact that Harrison didn't shop Doncic around the entire league, as he was only interested in Anthony Davis. Despite Davis being someone whom Harrison had been eyeing for some time, the right move would have been to leak that the Mavericks were looking to trade Doncic, consequently starting an all-out bidding war.

5 Trades that Mavericks could have considered for Luka Doncic

Every team in the association would likely want a chance to trade for a generational superstar right before he hits his prime, and the Mavericks would have undoubtedly gotten a better return package if they did their due diligence and called other teams.

ESPN's Bobby Marks recently broke down a trade (subscription required) that every team in the NBA could have offered the Mavericks for Doncic if he hadn't been traded to the Lakers, and the potential returns the Mavs could have gotten are unbelievable. Dallas crippled themselves for the present and future by trading Doncic, and while the move should have never happened to begin with, there are several great moves that they should have considered instead of the trade with the Lakers since Harrison had his heart set on Doncic swifly being traded out of Dallas.

5. Pacers begin Doncic era, but lose considerable depth

Harrison should have hung up the phone immediately if the Indiana Pacers offered him this package for Doncic, but they would add some good wing depth along with a new star big man in Myles Turner, who Mavs fans have been eyeing for years.

Turner is a true five, meaning some other move would have to follow for the Mavs, considering how their team is constructed, but the role players they get on top of Turner are better than any of the other potential trade packages. Bennedict Mathurin is becoming one of the most underrated shooting guards in the NBA, Obi Toppin would bring defensive versatility, 3-point shooting, and excellent athleticism, and Aaron Nesmith gives them another shooter who would bring good energy off the bench.

4. Celtics break Mavericks fans' hearts all over again

Mavs fans' hearts are still mourning the team's NBA Finals loss to the Boston Celtics from last season, and this potential move would cause fans even more heartbreak.

Dallas would replace Doncic with another superstar in Jaylen Brown, but he is considerably below Davis when considering potential impact. The Mavs wouldn't be getting enough in return to sell this move to the fans (just like almost any trade they could have made for Doncic), but at least Boston gave them more than one first-round pick, like the Lakers did.

Brown's stellar defense on Doncic in the NBA Finals made the Mavericks question Doncic, and he seems like a player that Harrison would like to play with Kyrie Irving.

3. Heat give Mavericks a new star big man to play with Kyrie Irving

This package from the Miami Heat isn't better than what the Mavericks got from the Lakers, but pairing Bam Adebayo with Irving is a duo you can't ignore. Dallas would keep their defense-first identity, and Adebayo happens to be in the middle of his prime.

On top of Adebayo, Dallas would land a young wing who has shown potential in Jaime Jaquez Jr., along with a 3-and-D wing in Haywood Highsmith. Other moves would need to follow this one, as Adebayo is a true five and wouldn't be the best on-court fit with Dereck Lively II or Daniel Gafford.

2. Cavaliers give Mavericks new star guard and another big

If the Mavericks were to make this trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, they'd have to trade Gafford or Lively II right after, but landing an elite big along with an elite guard and a future first-round pick is a decent offer.

Darius Garland's fit next to Kyrie Irving may be hard at first, but adding another young guard to their core is a move they must make if dealing Doncic. Jarrett Allen would be a considerable upgrade over Lively II or Gafford (depending on which one they move after), and Dallas would be in a good spot to be a contender this season, as Garland and Allen have shown their incredible value with the Cavs this season.

1. Thunder send role players and wild draft capital to Big D for Doncic

This potential trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder would not give the Mavericks as good of a shot at winning right now as some of the other potential trades, but seven first-round picks along with multiple excellent role players would be a good return (since Dallas was set on trading Doncic).

If the Mavericks were to make this move, they'd add one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA in Lu Dort, along with Aaron Wiggins, Kenrich Williams, and Isaiah Joe. Harrison is focused on winning the NBA Finals with defense, and the Mavericks would be adding multiple solid defenders who would play real minutes right away.

With Dallas trading away one player while bringing back five, other moves would need to be made, but this move would undoubtedly maximize their return. The Mavs would be set for the future if they were to keep these picks, and they could explore other moves utilizing these picks and other players.

Harrison made his decision to trade Doncic, the franchise cornerstone, but fans will always be wondering what kind of return they could have gotten him if they shopped him around the league.