There's no doubt that Luka Doncic is one of the league's top superstars, and it's rare for those players to end up being traded. However, we've seen players like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving shifted in recent memories, and Luka Doncic could be next on the list.
The Dallas Mavericks acquired Kyrie Irving ahead of the trade deadline in hopes of making him the partner who ultimately helped Luka Doncic win the championship. However, the Dallas Mavericks are not a good team, and it is possible that Kyrie Irving will eventually leave as a free agent.
Lukadoncic could also ask for a trade if his partner eventually leaves, as it has previously been reported that his future with the Mavericks will depend on the team's ability to keep Kyrie Irving. Obviously, if the Mavericks can't keep Irving, then Doncic might try to go somewhere where he has a realistic chance of competing with the roster built around him.
There has been a lot of speculation among fans that Luka Doncic could team up with Nikola Jokic with the Denver Nuggets, especially after Doncic and his girlfriend were the only two non-family members invited to Jokic's birthday party in February. It's clear that the relationship between the two superstars is good, and maybe this will lead them to join forces. There have also been some reports suggesting that Luka Doncic is more likely to go to the Denver Nuggets than the other way around.
We created a potential trade scenario involving Luka Doncic traveling to the Denver Nuggets. The program centers on star Jamal Murray and promising forward Michael Porter Jr.
Denver Nuggets get: Luka Doncic, Reggie Bullock
The Dallas Mavericks get: Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Bruce Brown (signed and then traded), Zicker Ennaji, 2029 first-round pick
There is no doubt that it will be a crazy deal from the perspective of the fans. That's why both teams should consider making this deal and how it might impact everyone involved.
The Denver Nuggets created championship contenders along with Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic
Whenever teams have a chance to acquire a superstar-level player, they should take that opportunity because the potential rewards far outweigh any risks. It will be a similar situation, as Luka Doncic has the potential to become the best player in the world in the future. He's the kind of superstar who deserves to be traded for multiple good players.
In this deal, the Denver Nuggets will send Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. as the main cores of the deal. While both players are either All-Star-caliber or have that potential, it makes sense to transfer them to Luka Doncic because he and Nikola Jokic will be a champion-level duo.
While the Dallas Mavericks may end up asking for Aaron Gordon in a trade, the Denver Nuggets are likely to keep him because he's a reliable two-way player who fits the Luka Doncic-Nicola Jokic duo. Reggie Bullock was included from the end of the Dallas Mavericks for salary matching purposes, while the Nuggets will sign and trade Bruce Brown to increase the value of their trade package. Based on Bruce Brown's request for his new contract, the Mavericks may eventually need to include another contract in the deal.
Luka Doncic can also share some of the offensive responsibility from Nikola Jokic, and there is no doubt that they will be an attacking powerhouse. Doncic will also give Jokic a good outside shot creator to make him better than Jamal Murray late in the game. As of now, Luka Doncic has contributed 32.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists to the Dallas Mavericks, and his performance is definitely worthy of the Denver Nuggets' "godfather offer" to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Dallas Mavericks used Luka Doncic to secure a solid contract
While the package isn't heavy on draft compensation, the Dallas Mavericks certainly have a solid foundation to build their team after leaving Luka Doncic. They also have some future picks of their own, and they can definitely stay competitive.
Jamal Murray was a key player the Dallas Mavericks acquired in the deal, and he currently contributes 20.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.1 assists for the Denver Nuggets. We've seen some defenders, like Jalenbrunson, blossom when given greater opportunities and maybe Jamal Murray can do the same. He will be the Dallas Mavericks' number one choice, and his high level of scoring and playmaking suggests he could be the best player on a playoff team.
Michael Porter Jr. is one of the best three-point shooters in the league, averaging 17.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists this season while shooting a whopping 7.2 percent from range from the field in 42.0 percent. Although his role as the Denver Nuggets' No. 3 pick is more limited, given the opportunity and exposure, he could end up being another player who performs better from an individual perspective.
The Dallas Mavericks will also get Bruce Brown, Zeke Nagy and a first-round pick in the deal, which should be enough to make up for Luka Doncic's role for the team. As mentioned earlier, the team won't get a lot of draft picks in this deal. But draft picks aren't necessarily the only way to build a competitive team, and the deal will provide a core for teams that they can improve for years to come.
The deal could make the Denver Nuggets the favorites to win the Western Conference championship
The deal has the potential to make the Denver Nuggets a powerhouse in the Western Conference, especially if they gain some depth to revolve around Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic. Assembling a team around two superstars is as simple as the Nuggets get 3PT shots and defense from free agents, or in that case, they make a good team.
The Dallas Mavericks will get a solid contract for their superstar, and if things don't go well, they can always trade Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. later. It will be interesting to see if an agreement with the framework will be reached in the future, but it is clearly not impossible.