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The Dallas Mavericks reportedly included Luka Dončić in a blockbuster three-team trade with the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz due to "significant frustration within the organization" regarding his "lack of discipline regarding his diet and conditioning," ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported on Sunday (February 2).
Dončić, 25, who hasn't played since December 25, reported to camp relatively lean by his standards, however, saw his weight increase to the high 260s during the NBA season. The All-Star guard sat out five games in late November, which was listed as being due to a sprained right wrist, giving him more time to focus on his conditioning, which had previously been the case during the 2022-23 season.
Dončić has twice strained his left calf since late September, though the Mavericks had reported the injury to just be a calf contusion, source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to McMenamin. The three-team trade was initially reported by ESPN's Shams Charania, who claimed "the Mavericks approached the Lakers recently and offered Luka Dončić."
"Lakers brass met and believed the 25-year-old Doncic has the ability to be the face of their franchise for the next decade while giving Anthony Davis a win-now move in Dallas," Charania added."
Dončić widely regarded as one of the NBA's best players, hasn't appeared in a game since December 25. The Slovenian native averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 22 games.