Welcome to the NBA Hater Report, where I analyze the players, teams, and trends in the league that have drawn my criticism. This week, one team stands out: the Dallas Mavericks. If you’re not a fellow skeptic or a Mavericks fan grappling with the aftermath of what many deem the worst trade in basketball history since Babe Ruth, proceed with caution.

The Mavericks’ leadership, including GM Nico Harrison and owner Patrick Dumont, has attempted to frame the controversial Luka Doncic trade as a strategic move. However, along with the fans and experts scrutinizing their decision, they are now facing one of the harshest realities: 

Karma.

Reports suggest that Harrison perceived Luka as a lackadaisical player whose physique was destined for decline due to his negligence regarding nutrition and fitness. Dumont reinforced this notion in a recent interview with Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News, with some pointed remarks.

“If you look at the greats in the league, the legends we grew up with — [Michael] Jordan, [Larry] Bird, Kobe [Bryant], Shaq [O’Neal] — they committed every day to hard work and had an unwavering focus on winning,” Dumont stated. “Without that, success is elusive. If you lack it, you don’t belong with the Dallas Mavericks.

“That’s our ideal. I stand firm on this. Everyone in the organization understands the expectations. This is essential for competitiveness and victory. If you’re looking for a vacation, don’t seek it here.”

Essentially, they insinuate that Luka’s dedication to basketball is questionable because of his perceived disregard for conditioning. This appears unfounded, especially considering his remarkable performance over the first seven years of his career. While they may not believe Luka is all-in, citing Shaquille O’Neal as the prototype for the dedicated player you’re aiming for illustrates the Mavericks’ misguided assessment. Despite Shaq’s infamous conditioning struggles, he and Kobe Bryant still clinched three consecutive championships.

Some athletes, like Shaq, transcend idealistic standards of physical fitness through sheer talent. Luka is one of them. Even at 270 pounds, he remains one of the top five players globally. His contribution is undeniable; he has reached two conference finals and one NBA Finals in merely six seasons. Impressively, only Michael Jordan has a higher postseason scoring average than Luka’s 30.9 PPG across his first 50 playoff games. Even the wildest antics wouldn’t excuse trading him away.

The irony is heightened given the Mavericks’ belief that Luka’s body would falter, especially when considering that the player they acquired in the trade is notorious for his injury history, despite being healthy for the last two years.

While it’s crucial to avoid making light of injuries, the timing is hard to overlook. Just as Luka was traded, Anthony Davis suffered an injury during his debut with the Mavericks and may reportedly miss several weeks. Rumors speculate it could be an extended absence.

In my recent discussion with CBS Sports HQ’s resident sports doctor, Marty Jaramillo, he highlighted that Davis’ combination of upper and lower body injuries puts him at risk for a sports hernia, which might require season-ending surgery.

We all hope it doesn’t come to that, but this highlights the precarious position the Mavericks put themselves in by opting for a 32-year-old, especially one known for recurring injuries. Losing a season with a 25-year-old star isn’t the same as with a player whose championship window is rapidly closing.

Even a brief absence for Davis could jeopardize Dallas’ playoff ambitions. Moreover, Harrison was fully aware of Davis’ injury-prone reputation before making this trade, which he defended as an argument against Luka’s injury concerns.

To illustrate: consider this fact shared by Tom Haberstroh about the durability of the 32-year-old Davis compared to the 25-year-old Doncic over the past seven seasons.

If Davis is sidelined for 10-plus games due to this latest injury, it will mark the seventh time in the last seven seasons he’s missed double-digit games. Conversely, Luka Doncic has had only one such absence in the same timeframe.

Additionally, center Daniel Gafford suffered a knee sprain, and both Dereck Lively III and Dwight Powell are currently unavailable. The Mavericks, who once thrived on size and lineup flexibility, now confront a crisis due to injuries after trading away a player of exceptional caliber.

Unfortunately, Nico Harrison and Patrick Dumont, along with all those involved in the decision-making, may have unwittingly welcomed this fate. Karma, it seems, has a way of making its presence known.