The jaw-dropping Luka Doncic trade cemented the reality, if it wasn’t already clear, that Mark Cuban has no influence on the Mavericks’ basketball operations.

The Trail Blazers would likely want to make room to have more minutes for Donovan Clingan, who they recently selected early in the 2024 NBA Draft. For the Lakers, meanwhile, Ayton could have at least some tangible valuable as a player who has postseason experience and tremendous size on the inside.

The Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic in part to build what, on paper, looked to be perhaps the most imposing front court in the NBA. Anthony Davis is a 10-time All-Star pick, and in Dallas, he looked primed to return to his preferred position of power forward with Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford in place to man the center position.