Or perhaps the Mavericks stand pat after the Doncic trade. When Harrison acquired Irving and Markieff Morris from the Brooklyn Nets the Sunday before the Thursday trade deadline in 2023, the team suggested it wasn’t finished, but made no additional moves.

But Dallas's stunning about-face with its franchise player may have hit those closest to home harder than anyone. Mavericks fans, shocked and hurt by the trade, came out in droves to protest the deal outside of American Airlines Arena before Sunday's hockey game between the Dallas Stars and Columbus Blue Jackets.