Trade Analysis: Spurs Betting on Luka Doncic Leaving Mavs?

After the two teams traded with each other this summer, Victor Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs are hoping Luka Doncic leaves the Dallas Mavericks after his current contract ends.

In 2030, San Antonio Spurs highly-touted No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama will be 26 years old, which, by many NBA players standards, coincides with the prime of one's career. Depending on what happens with Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic between now and then, the Spurs might end up having another extremely valuable asset to use while Wembanyama is entering his prime.

Earlier this summer, the Mavs executed a three-way trade with the Spurs and Boston Celtics in order to acquire 24-year-old 3-and-D forward Grant Williams. As part of that trade, the Spurs had to take on Reggie Bullock’s expiring contract, and the Mavs gave them first-round pick swap rights in 2030 for doing so.

According to a report from ESPN, the Spurs purposely made sure the pick swap happened after Doncic’s current contract is over. Although this doesn’t guarantee San Antonio anything, it shows that they’re hoping for Doncic to leave the Mavs in ruins around the time the 2030 draft rolls around.

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“The 2030 swap, in particular, acquired from the Mavs to take Bullock's contract as part of a sign-and-trade for Grant Williams, symbolizes the Spurs' apparent patience,” ESPN writes.

“It's possible that swap could ultimately amount to nothing, but San Antonio timed it for after Luka Doncic's current contract ends and just as Wembanyama -- who will be 26 in 2030 -- should be reaching his peak.”

The Mavs are betting it will never come to that, though, as they believe adding new, upgraded roster pieces around Doncic and Kyrie Irving will help the franchise get back to level it reached two seasons ago when making it to the Western Conference Finals.

That said, it’s hard not to think about the ‘what-if’ scenarios when it comes to Doncic’s future. He seems to be a loyal guy in general, but he’s also the ultimate competitor as well. The Mavs will need to convert their new roster’s potential into actual on-court success to keep the non-Dallas media vultures from circling.

This season, which officially begins on Oct. 23, the Spurs will host Doncic's Mavs for the season opener in San Antonio. Wembanyama and Doncic, being two of the most hyped prospects to come from Europe, are sure to give fans what they paid to watch.