The NBA world was stunned late Saturday night when the Dallas Mavericks—whose controlling stakeholder is Las Vegas Sands casino mogul Dr. Miriam Adelson—announced a blockbuster trade sending superstar Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The move is shocking, given Dončić’s stature as one of the NBA’s top players and the league’s reigning scoring champion. He was on track to become eligible this offseason for a supermax extension worth five years and $345 million, which would have made him the highest-paid player in NBA history. However, by trading him, Dallas removes that possibility—limiting Dončić’s potential max contract with the Lakers to five years and $229 million.
Supermax deals, available only to players in their eighth or ninth season who made the prior year’s All-NBA Team, are designed to keep franchise stars with their original teams. This makes the Mavericks’ decision to part ways with Dončić all the more puzzling.
Why Did Dallas Trade Luka?
Several factors may have influenced the Mavericks’ willingness to move Dončić. Chief among them are concerns about his conditioning. Injuries have plagued him this season, limiting him to just 22 games. While still dominant when on the court—averaging 28.1 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and two steals—his availability has been a growing issue.
Adelson’s Influence?
In late 2023, Miriam Adelson, her daughter Sivan Dumont, and son-in-law Patrick Dumont acquired a 73% majority stake in the Mavericks from billionaire Mark Cuban for $3.5 billion. Cuban retained a 27% ownership share and is reportedly still involved in front-office decisions.
While financial and performance concerns may have played a role in the trade, social media speculation has raised another possibility: politics.
Adelson, one of the most influential supporters of Israel, has a history of using her political clout. She and her late husband, Sheldon Adelson, successfully lobbied President Donald Trump to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Dončić, a Slovenian-born star, hails from one of the few European nations that formally recognized the State of Palestine last summer.
Adding fuel to the speculation, Adelson wrote a controversial op-ed in the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom in November 2023, declaring:
“If you condemn Hamas and then add a ‘but’ followed by condemnation of Israel, you’re dead to us. If you insist Israel is obligated to seek accommodation with Hamas … you’re dead to us.”
While no concrete evidence ties Dončić’s trade to geopolitics, the timing and circumstances have fueled online rumors.
A Move to Las Vegas?
Another theory circulating is that Adelson could be looking to relocate the Mavericks to Las Vegas. The scenario resembles the plot of Major League, in which a team owner deliberately weakens her roster to justify moving the franchise.
When Adelson purchased the Mavericks, some believed she would push for casino legalization in Texas—a cause Mark Cuban has long championed. However, with Texas lawmakers showing little momentum toward legalizing commercial casinos, Las Vegas may offer a more enticing opportunity.
Las Vegas has rapidly become a major sports hub, with the NFL, NHL, and WNBA establishing teams there. Many believe it’s only a matter of time before the NBA follows. If Adelson were to move the Mavericks, it could pave the way for a new Las Vegas Sands casino-resort with a state-of-the-art NBA arena near the Strip.
While there’s no confirmation of such a plan, the Dončić trade only intensifies speculation about the future of the Mavericks—and the role Miriam Adelson may be playing behind the scenes.
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