NBA Commissioner reveals how blockbuster Mavericks-Lakers Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis deal happened

The most recent blockbuster transfer of Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis trended throughout the NBA. That very quickly sparked howls of protest, most of which demanded action by the NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, to intervene and veto the trade. Well, Silvers are pretty clear on this; nothing can be done because they do not interfere with a roster in such exchanges.

The NBA's Role in Trades

On an edition of the Pardon My Take podcast, Silver detailed the NBA's involvement in trades, pointing out that it was limited to checking that the deals complied with the CBA: "All we do is make sure that the contracts in trades work under the confines of the collective bargaining agreement," Silver said. "We don't have any say in roster moves other than that."

To the question of whether he had contacted Mavericks GM Nico Harrison to confirm the deal, he responded with a light-hearted tone. "Did you at least text [GM Nico Harrison], 'Are you sure?'" joked co-host Big Cat. Silver shook his head, dismissing the idea.

Dallas Mavericks' Front Office Under Fire

Trading one of the brightest stars in the league, Doncic, has left the Mavericks as a punch line in the NBA front-office joke book. Fans and analysts alike question the wisdom of the move-for given Doncic's star power, and considering what could have been built around him.

This trade wasn't one that I saw coming, admitted Silver when talking about being surprised by the trade. "Teams don't necessarily give the league inside information, so I was surprised from that standpoint."

Small Markets Versus Big Markets

Nowhere in Silver's comments did he even slightly favor the argument that the league as an institution stood in favor of big-market teams like the Lakers. On the contrary, over the last couple of years, smaller-market teams have been doing well, two of which happen to be the best in the league at the moment.

Look at the league right now ... two smaller-market teams ... have the two best records in the league ... and I think that's great." Silver said, "We've had six different NBA champions in the past six years. This may sound obvious, but I want all of our teams to do well and be competitive. Frankly, Dallas is a big market. So, was I surprised from that standpoint that he was traded? Yes, I'm a fan, teams don't necessarily give the league inside information...so this trade wasn't one that I saw coming."

He was self-declared in his comments as leaving an open argument for the possibilities that the league had something to do with the trade. He clear-cut comment that the Mavs front office made a move on their own, particularly by trading Doncic, into a decision to leave many people oddly surprised.

While this trade will now seem unpopular, it is best to underline that it stood in keeping with the NBA's principles to allow each club to choreograph its rosters. It really does not matter at the end whether the deal goes right or wrong for Dallas: the league had nothing to do with bringing it about.

Clearing the air on NBA role

The Stephen Lukas-Anthony Davis trade has evoked some serious debate; however, Adam Silver cleared the air with his comments regarding the NBA's role. The focus is now on compliance with the CBA, while the teams themselves are free to take roster decisions. With that bold move by the Mavericks, Silver reminds us that the priority of the NBA is competitive parity across markets, great and small.