A statement from Mavericks CEO Rick Welts about the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade has left fans in dismay.
I thought Id seen everything in my 47 years in the NBA, but clearly this was different. I probably underestimated the reaction, the CEO said, via the Dallas Morning News. Its incredibly emotional, an incredibly difficult time for so many people. But I still believe were going to come out on the other side, with a future thats incredibly bright. Thats kind of my glass-half-full approach there.
His admission left fans completely stunned and was aptly summed up by Dan Greenberg of Barstool Sports.
Uhhhhhhhhhhh what? You underestimated the reaction? How on earth is that even remotely possible? Greenberg said. Did everyone in the Mavs front office from their ownership group to Nico Harrison to the CEO seriously think that an entire fanbase wouldnt immediately revolt once this trade was announced? How is there nobody in that room that says, Hey, maybe this is a terrible idea that will kill our brand equity with the people whos money we need?
Fans on X also called the CEOs words the understatement of the century.
Part of what was so shocking about the trade was the fact that no one saw it coming, even super-plugged in guys like Klutch Sports Rich Paul LeBron James and ADs player agent.
99.9% of the time, Im going to know whats going on, Paul said on Gils Arena. The one time I didnt was the one time we all didnt, per se, know what was going on. Who was in it was a shock. I always knew the affinity that was had for AD from Nicos perspective, so the location wasnt a shock. The timing of it was a shock. And, obviously, who was involved was a shock. Im glad I didnt know, and Im glad whoever else didnt know. Because it probably wouldnt happened if you did know.
READ MORE: Oscar Robertson Completely Rips Draymond Green For Calling NBA Boring
