Luka Doncic

Mavs' superstar guard Luka Doncic arrived to the Mavericks game vs. the Hawks on Wednesday in style by driving a tank.

But without Doncic, one has to wonder if they would even be a play-in team. the Hawks averaging just shy of 34 points per game on 50 percent field goal and 35 percent three-point shooting. However, Mavs’ owner Mark [Cuban later shot down the report](https://clutchpoints.com/mavs-news-mark-cuban-fires-back-at-luka-doncic-trade-deadline-report).

Having carried a heavy load already this season,Luka Dončić wants to see the Dallas Mavericks be aggressive with their roster management. Per ESPN's.

Dončić is in the first season of a five-year, $215.2 million contract extension. The 23-year-old leads the NBA in scoring with 33.8 points per game. His defensive improvements are important because Kidd [said](https://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/dallas-mavs-jason-kidd-christian-wood-playing-time-season-low-minutes) early in the season it was a big reason he wasn't part of the closing lineup in the fourth quarter. 3 and 2.5 games ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. The Mavs' 24-21 record ranks fifth, 2.5 games behind the New Orleans Pelicans at No. Jalen Brunson's decision to sign with the Knicks in free agency left the Mavericks without a strong secondary option.

Dejounte Murray scored 30 points, Trae Young had 18 points and 12 assists in another matchup with Luka Doncic and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Dallas ...

Hawks: Eight of the nine Atlanta players scored in double figures. Atlanta’s Clint Capela had 16 points and six rebounds in his second game back after missing 13 of the previous 14 games with a right calf strain. Finney-Smith had nine points and nine rebounds in 35 minutes. understanding that (Murray) had a hot hand, was feeling it and was in a rhythm and we tried to milk that.” Dallas took its first lead at 75-73 in the third quarter on a 3-pointer from Doncic that started an 11-0 run. Young pushed the lead to six with 41 seconds left on a high-arching floater.

Also, the Spurs have a steep asking price for Jakob Poeltl.

They already invested their firsts to bolster the rotation when they made the White and Brogdon trades in 2022. [Boston Celtics](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/BOS/boston-celtics/) and [Toronto Raptors](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/TOR/toronto-raptors/) are two teams that have been mentioned as potential suitors. Hachimura is set to be a restricted free agent over the offseason, and he has reportedly drawn interest from several teams in the Western Conference. In all likelihood, a Celtics move at the deadline would resemble a second-round pick for a complementary bench piece. [Spurs](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/SA/san-antonio-spurs/) seeking two first-round picks for [Jakob Poeltl](/nba/players/2153012/jakob-poeltl/) Sources said Doncic, who hasn't shown a desire to be involved in personnel matters in the past, has strongly indicated he wants the Mavs to upgrade before the Feb. On the season, Hachimura is averaging 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game, and he could provide a contending team with some added scoring. A lot of teams feel like they have a chance to make a real run, and thus could be looking to make moves. He's certainly not satisfied to be in the middle of the playoff pack. The Wizards have begun trade talks with multiple teams centered on forward Rui Hachimura, per [Kyle Kuzma](/nba/players/2842826/kyle-kuzma/). Doncic has been more spectacular than ever this season, efficiently leading the league in scoring despite frequent double-teams and dragging Dallas to a 24-21 record, good enough for fifth place in the West.

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić entered Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Hawks with quite the automobile.

Basically, it’s just a mammoth-sized Jeep. [Mavs’ Luka Dončić pulls up in six-wheeler ahead of Hawks game](https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/mavericks-luka-doncic-pulls-six-wheeler-tank-car-ahead-hawks-game?cid=Yahoo&partner=ya4nbcs&chrcontext=WVIT) originally appeared on [NBC Sports Chicago](https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago?cid=MSN&chrcontext=WVIT) [Dallas Mavericks](https://www.nbcdfw.com/tag/dallas-mavericks/) (24-21) may not be tanking for Victor Wembanyama, but Luka Dončić pulled up into the American Airlines Center in something similar.

Instead, they had loyal superstar Dirk Nowitzki, an intense competitor in his own right but one largely content to let the Dallas Mavericks front office do ...

Though it remains to be seen whether Doncic would ever request a trade one day, the fact is that he wants to win and win right now. [Deep Ellum mural](https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2023/1/16/23556506/its-disrespectful-mark-cuban-doesnt-like-luka-doncic-mural-deep-ellum) (since taken down) can attest to the frustration of a fanbase that just came off a Western Conference finals run. [we’ve detailed](https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2022/11/21/23466312/dallas-mavericks-trades-draft-mark-cuban-nico-harrison-jason-kidd-luka-doncic), in the five years of team building with Luka Doncic, the Mavericks have had a healthy combination of bad luck and poor decisions, which has left them with a roster devoid of assets which could net a reasonable return. It’s worth noting that last season at the trade deadline, the Mavericks front office did make a blockbuster move when none seemed on the horizon, moving Kristaps Porzingis for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans. [Per MacMahon’s sources](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35467777/why-luka-doncic-trae-young-linked-more-draft-night-trade) within the organization, Doncic “has strongly indicated he wants the Mavs to upgrade” before the NBA’s Feb. Let’s see what they do.” It seems that six months later, Doncic is no longer willing to wait and see what happens.

Luka Doncic has flexed some superstar muscle to the Dallas Mavericks, urging them to make some upgrades to the team ahead of the NBA trade deadline.

[must find a way to retain Christian Wood](https://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/dallas-mavs-mark-cuban-christian-wood-impact-trade-contract-extension), who will be a free agent this offseason barring any unlikely contract extension agreement. The team needs to add another contributor on the wing to add depth, ideally an option around 25 to add youth. It does help to patch holes with midseason moves, but it also doesn't solve the underlying problem of the Mavs lacking a secondary perennial All-Star. The Mavs have until Feb. They rank fifth in the Western Conference standings as they [gain Dorian Finney-Smith and Josh Green back from multi-week injuries](https://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/dallas-mavs-dorian-finney-smith-josh-green-injury-report-update-atlanta-hawks). When evaluating the list of needs on the Mavs' supporting, a few key areas need to be addressed.

Luka Dončić may be an MVP candidate, but that is about the only thing the Dallas Mavericks have going for them. Dallas lost a third straight and fell to 1-5 ...

Dončić wasted little time reminding Young why he was chosen earlier and poured in 19 points in the first quarter alone. Luka Doncic scored 19 points and the Mavericks had 37 in the 1st quarter, but they are down by 3 heading into the 2nd. Dallas lost a third straight and fell to 1-5 in its last six games with a 130-122 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday at American Airlines Center.