Luka Doncic

Luka Doncic is eligible for a rookie contract extension that could be worth approximately $200 million over five seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, but the two sides reportedly are not currently holding discussions as the franchise looks to bounce back from another first-round playoff exit.

During an appearance on Wednesday's episode of The Jump, ESPN's Marc J. Spears said, "there's no talks right now" (1:20 mark).

This is just the latest development for a franchise that is somewhat in flux after losing to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season.

The team announced it "mutually agreed to part ways" with general manager Donnie Nelson on Wednesday. Marc Stein of the New York Times reported Dallas hired a search firm as it looks for its next head of basketball operations.

The move was publicized after Tim Cato and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported the Mavericks' director of quantitative research and development, Haralabos Voulgaris, "has been the most influential voice within the Mavericks front office since joining the team, either initiating or approving virtually every transaction made over the past two seasons."

ESPN's Tim MacMahon noted "Nelson had lost power since the hiring of Bob Voulgaris, creating internal tension."

While Mavericks governor Mark Cuban called the report from The Athletic "total bulls--t" on Twitter, Cato and Amick noted Doncic's relationship with Voulgaris was strained.

On The Jump, Spears said Doncic is "really upset" about Nelson's departure since they were "close." Spears also reported that Doncic plans on releasing a statement about the Nelson news on Thursday.

The front office moves and potential drama have created headlines, but Doncic is the centerpiece of the organization's future.

He is already one of the best players in the entire league at 22 years old and was an All-Star in each of the last two seasons. He was a member of the All-NBA first team this past season and averaged 27.7 points, 8.6 assists, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game.

The team's ability to keep him around long-term will be critical as it looks to reestablish itself as a contender in the Western Conference.

Add an All-NBA first team selection to Nikola Jokic's list of accomplishments during the 2020-21 season.

The league MVP headlined the list of All-NBA selections, which were revealed ahead of Tuesday's second-round showdown between the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets. Jokic was joined by Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard on the first team.

Joel Embiid and LeBron James headlined the All-NBA second team, while Kyrie Irving was included on the third team:

2020-21 All-NBA teams:

First: Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Kawhi Leonard

Second: Chris Paul, Damian Lillard, Joel Embiid, Julius Randle, LeBron James

Third: Kyrie Irving, Bradley Beal, Rudy Gobert, Jimmy Butler, Paul George

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2021

Center Nikola Jokić, the 2020-21 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, and two-time MVPs Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry lead the 2020-21 All-NBA First Team.

More ➡️ https://t.co/2dPWFu5npB

The voting results for the 2020-21 All-NBA Team are below ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/TQ7thkKhDI

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) June 16, 2021

The positional restraints in place when naming the All-NBA teams is always a storyline, although Brad Botkin of CBS Sports noted there was an adjustment for some players who were All-NBA eligible at multiple positions.

Embiid was the most notable one of those, as the Philadelphia 76ers big man was eligible as a forward despite playing center for the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed. That meant he wasn't in direct competition with Jokic at the center spot, even if he was one of the primary competitors for the league MVP until the Nuggets star pulled away from the field by the end of the season.

Still, injuries held him back in the MVP race and may have in the All-NBA selections as well given his spot on the second team.

Elsewhere, James played just 45 games, which was the lowest mark of his career. The Los Angeles Lakers star was hampered by an ankle injury and also fell out of the MVP race despite being one of the early frontrunners.

However, missing so much time didn't prevent him from making the 17th All-NBA team of his illustrious career. The four-time champion has made the All-NBA first team 13 times, but, much like when he dealt with injuries in 2018-19 as a third-teamer, he had to settle for second team this season.

James is one of eight All-NBA selections who are no longer playing for a championship after his Lakers lost in the first round to the Phoenix Suns.

That is not the case for Antetokounmpo, Embiid, Chris Paul, Leonard, Rudy Gobert, Irving and Paul George, who are all still alive in the playoffs. They were each recognized for their individual abilities with Tuesday's announcement, but they would surely all trade it for a championship as the playoffs continue.

On Monday, Tim Cato and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that there are internal concerns within the Dallas Mavericks that the "front office's dysfunction" may hurt Luka Doncic's relationship with the organization and that "poor relationships Doncic has with key members of the franchise, including Haralabos Voulgaris, could impact his current desire to remain in Dallas long-term."

Later on Monday, team governor Mark Cuban dismissed the report in no uncertain terms (warning: contains profanity):

https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/1404487874695806982

Officially, Voulgaris holds the title of director of quantitative research and development, though Cato and Amick reported that he's been the "most influential voice within the Mavericks front office since joining the team, either initiating or approving virtually every transaction made over the past two seasons." 

He's also reportedly earned the ire of Doncic on more than one occasion, per that report, though Cuban defended him. 

"I really like what Bob brings to the table," he told The Athletic. "He does a great job of supporting Rick and the front office with unique data insights."

"Bob has a great grasp of AI and the opportunities it create for gaining an advantage," he added. "Which is important to me. But he isn't any more influential than any other data source on the team."

Cuban also spoke to Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks, where he further rejected the premise of the report:

Just spoke to Mark Cuban about the recent reports:

“I pay close attention to what Luka says, what the front office, analytics group and our scouts say. What Rick says. The idea that there is a shadow GM is laughable. The idea that anyone but Rick sets rotations is insulting”

— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) June 14, 2021

The good news for the Mavs is that Doncic reportedly "has a healthy relationship with the Mavericks organization at large" and that the concern isn't necessarily his current feelings on the team, but that his relationship with the front office might be trending in the wrong direction given his relationship with Voulgaris. 

He's already essentially confirmed that he would sign a five-year, $200 million supermax contract with the Mavs this offseason:

Luka Doncic smiles widely when asked if he plans to sign a supermax extension this summer: “I think you know the answer.”

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 7, 2021

Losing Doncic would be devastating for the Mavericks. He is essentially the new Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas. So if his relationship with the front office ever deteriorates to the point that he asks to be traded—or even gets close to that point—it's likely major changes would come.

Outside of Cuban, the most powerful person inside the Mavericks organization is Doncic. The entire goal is surrounding him with the supporting cast and culture to win a championship. At the moment, there are major questions as to whether the Mavs have the right people in place to execute that vision. 

Are Luka Doncic's days with the Dallas Mavericks numbered?

According to Tim Cato and Sam Amick of The Athletic, "multiple team sources" are concerned about Doncic's long-term future in Dallas, though he "has a healthy relationship with the Mavericks organization at large."

But things aren't perfect, according to the report. In February, Doncic "snapped" at director of quantitative research and development Haralabos Voulgaris after a turnover, saying, "Don't f--king tell me to calm down" after he interpreted a gesture as Voulgaris telling him to do so.

Later, Voulgaris said his gesture wasn't directed at Doncic alone, but the incident "only worsened an already inflamed relationship between the two."

Their poor relationship is based on more than one incident, per The Athletic. In April, Doncic told teammates Voulgaris was "quitting on them" after he departed a loss to the New York Knicks early.

Mavericks governor Mark Cuban responded to the report via his Twitter account, calling it "total bulls--t."

Cuban later spoke to Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks, where he further refuted the report:

Just spoke to Mark Cuban about the recent reports:

“I pay close attention to what Luka says, what the front office, analytics group and our scouts say. What Rick says. The idea that there is a shadow GM is laughable. The idea that anyone but Rick sets rotations is insulting”

— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) June 14, 2021

Should the two-time All-Star make an All-NBA team for this season, he will be eligible for a supermax extension worth more than $200 million over five seasons, which would begin when his rookie deal concludes in a year.

He all but told reporters he plans to sign that deal, which he can do Aug. 6.  

Luka Doncic on signing the looming $200 million contract extension he will be offered this summer: "I think you know the answer."

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 7, 2021

But the Mavericks, who haven't won a postseason series since they won a championship in 2011, are sorely in need of support for their star, and it doesn't seem as though things will change soon.

Cuban said after the team lost Game 7 of its first-round series with the Los Angeles Clippers that he wasn't considering a coaching change. However, Rick Carlisle has interest in coaching the Milwaukee Bucks should the franchise part ways with Mike Budenholzer, per Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer.

According to The Athletic, Voulgaris has overstepped his title and is considered "the most influential voice within the Mavericks front office."

With that much power, it appears Dallas could be at a standstill if the relationship between the front office and its franchise star doesn't improve.

One month away from the 2021 NBA draft, potential No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham believes his style of play is reminiscent of one of the league's best young players. 

Appearing on The Old Man and the Three podcast, Cunningham explained why his game compares favorably with Luka Doncic (starts at 5:40 mark). 

"Our body types probably resemble each other the most, as far as who I look like in the NBA," he said. "[Luka's] role. He's a primary ball-handler. He's the one kinda making the plays, so that's why I say Luka a bunch."

Doncic has been a popular player comparison for Cunningham in pre-draft evaluations of the Oklahoma State star. 

ESPN NBA draft analyst Mike Schmitz said on The Jump in March that Cunningham can do virtually everything on the offensive end that Doncic does: 

“If you like step-back threes, 6’8 point guards, 40-point games, game-winner after game-winner, (Cade is) your guy. He’s the Luka Doncic of college basketball when you talk about his positional size, his ability to get to his spots. He can score at all three levels, he makes everyone around him better.”

B/R's Jonathan Wasserman has Cunningham ranked as the top prospect in the 2021 draft class, citing his "versatility and positional interchangeability" as his biggest strengths.

Expectations for Cunningham have been off the charts dating back to his time in high school at Montverde Academy. He was a 5-star recruit and top-ranked prospect in the 2020 college class by 247Sports composite rankings. 

Cunningham certainly lived up to the hype during his one season with the Cowboys. He was named Big 12 Player of the Year after averaging 20.1 points on 40 percent shooting from three-point range, 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in 27 appearances. 

Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson downplayed any friction between Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic as the franchise picks up the pieces from its first-round NBA playoff exit at the hands of the Los Angeles Clipperss.

Nelson said Monday that "their supposed rift, tiff, whatever you want to call it, is way overblown."

Mavs president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson was asked about the Luka Doncic/Kristaps Porzingis dynamic. His answer: pic.twitter.com/kMXdX4SXfK

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 7, 2021

Following Dallas' Game 7 loss Sunday, Porzingis alluded to a level of frustration with his role on the team.

"There's a little bit of a mental battle because that's not what I'm used to and where I'm most comfortable," he said. "... Whatever I do, it seems like it's always something, so I just try to be as professional as I can.

ESPN's Tim MacMahon provided some more context, reporting the 2018 All-Star "has been frustrated, often feeling more like an afterthought than a co-star as Doncic dominates the ball and the spotlight."

Even if the dynamic between Porzingis and Doncic is being mischaracterized, the Mavericks might still have a problem on their hands in the form of the 7'3" center.

Porzingis averaged 20.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks and shot 37.6 percent from three-point range during the regular season. During the playoffs, his performance cratered.

Over the seven-game set with the Clippers, the Latvian big man averaged 13.1 points and 5.4 rebounds, and he made just 29.6 percent of his threes. According to Basketball Reference, he also had a 16.2 percent usage rate, which was dwarfed by that of Doncic (40.4 percent).

Porzingis is supposed to be the supporting star alongside Doncic, and he was basically a replacement-level player during the most important stretch of the year. That's a big problem when he's owed $65.5 million over the next two seasons and has a $36 million player option in 2023-24. 

Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer reported in February the Mavs had "quietly gauged the trade market for Porzingis" ahead of the NBA trade deadline. Team governor Mark Cuban later nipped that rumor in the bud.

But Fischer explained how Porzingis' value at the time may not have been all that high, and a salary-cap specialist suggested he might only net Dallas a lottery-protected first-round pick. The postseason likely did little to help matters.

Attempting to throw a wet blanket on any Porzingis and Doncic-related drama is the only move for Nelson right now, but it doesn't really solve the underlying issue.

Luka Doncic plans to sign a five-year supermax contract when the deal is presented to him this August. 

“I think you know the answer," Doncic told reporters when asked if he'd sign the contract.

Doncic will qualify for designated player status, meaning the five-year deal could reach upward of $200 million. The final dollar amount will be determined by the NBA cap for the 2022-23 season.

It's expected to be a busy summer for Doncic, who said he does not plan to take any time off and will instead join the Slovenian national team for its attempt to qualify for the 2021 Summer Olympics. Doncic helped lead Slovenia to a Eurobasket gold medal in 2017 and will be playing in his first Olympics if the team qualifies.

The Mavericks star may also have to spend his offseason repairing a relationship with Kristaps Porzingis. ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported Porzingis feels like "an afterthought" to Doncic, and team governor Mark Cuban has admitted the Mavericks' two most recognizable players are not friends off the court.

"He's a great player. I think we've got to use him more, and that's it," Doncic told reporters when asked about Porzingis.

The Porzingis aspect may be the most important. Doncic's linked to the 7-footer for the foreseeable future, with Porzingis under contract through the 2023-24 season. While Dallas could explore moving Porzingis, his contract will make that difficult and the team would be doing so at a massive discount.

Porzingis was at the center of criticism as the Mavericks blew a 2-0 lead in their first-round series against the Clippers. He averaged just 13.1 points and 5.4 rebounds for the series, disappearing for extended stretches. The Mavericks were forced to move Boban Marjanovic into the starting lineup in large part due to Porzingis' inability to provide a presence inside on either end of the floor. 

With Doncic's contract kicking in before the 2022-23 season and Porzingis still under contract, they're going to need to find a way to make this partnership work. Otherwise, the Mavs are likely going to waste a lot more Herculean efforts from Doncic.

Kristaps Porzingis reportedly feels like "an afterthought" in Dallas amid the rise of Luka Doncic.

Tim MacMahon of ESPN reported Porzingis has been "frustrated" at not being looked at as a true co-star to Doncic, who gets the lion's share of the praise and touches in Dallas. Mavericks governor Mark Cuban has previously admitted Doncic and Porzingis are not friends off the floor, comparing the situation to Dirk Nowitzki's relationship with Jason Terry when they first played together:

On the court they are fine. I mean, coaches coach, and coach kind of runs the show so everything gets worked out on the court. That's not to say there aren't dust-ups, because there are.

I'd compare it to Jet and Dirk. If you remember, when we first got Jet, Dirk was not a fan. Dirk did not like him. And we lost in a playoff series because Jet made a mistake against [Steve] Nash and that just made it even worse. They weren’t best friends at the beginning, but they grew to like each other and grew to be great friends and that’s just part of the process when you’ve got young kids who are growing up. It took forever before Dirk and Jet did anything off the court together. A long time. Yeah, I mean, KP and Luka get along fine. It’s just that they’re different people. They like to do different things.

Porzingis has not been particularly quiet about his displeasure with the Mavericks offensive system, making public comments about ball movement on a number of occasions.

The 7-footer has been the subject of criticism following his lackluster performance in the Mavericks' first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers. Porzingis averaged just 13.1 points and 5.4 rebounds over the seven-game series, with Doncic often left to shoulder the load on his own.

Criticism' of the Mavericks' offensive flow appear to have little merit. Dallas set the NBA record (that was since broken) for offensive efficiency in 2019-20 and finished ninth this season after rebounding from a rough start. 

Doncic's usage rate of 35 percent ranked behind only Joel Embiid during the regular season, but it wasn't far out of line with any other top superstar. The game's top stars tend to use around a third of their team's possessions. There aren't many people in Golden State upset with Stephen Curry's 33.1 percent usage rate.

Porzingis likely isn't treated like a co-star because he hasn't played like one. Porzingis has taken a massive step back defensively since suffering a torn ACL and has become a liability on that end in many cases. The Mavericks started Boban Marjanovic the final three games of the Clippers series and moved Porzingis to power forward.

Conversation about the Mavericks roster after the series has focused on a lack of help for Doncic, who scored or assisted on 421 of Dallas' 752 points against the Clippers. 

For the second successive season, the Dallas Mavericks have been eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs. It's a particularly disappointing exit for Luka Doncic, who has proven himself to be one of the league's best young players.

Doncic did all he could to push the Los Angeles Clippers to seven games, averaging 35.7 points (the highest among all postseason players), 10.3 assists, 7.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals while shooting 49.0 percent overall and 40.8 percent from three.

The 22-year-old's 46 points and 14 assists generated 77 total points in the series finale, the most ever in a playoff Game 7, per Elias.

Still, it wasn't enough to get the Mavericks out of the first round. Again.

It goes without saying this is an important offseason in Dallas.

Change is needed for growth, but in what areas? What options do the Mavs have in free agency and the trade market? What does the future  have in store for Kristaps Porzingis and head coach Rick Carlisle? Despite his age, Dallas can't afford to be patient with Doncic, or risk going down the same path of another young superstar.

What's Working

There don't appear to be any major coaching changes in store, as team owner Mark Cuban told ESPN's Tim McMahon that Carlisle would be keeping his job.

The 61-year-old has been Dallas' head coach since the 2008-09 season, winning a championship in 2011. Since then, however, Carlisle has yet to make it out of the first round in six attempts.

This has primarily been a roster issue, however, as Dirk Nowitzki was going into the twilight of his career with little young talent around until Doncic was drafted in 2018.

With no change at head coach, what else needs to stay the same? 

Doncic is still on his rookie deal and will be back. The Mavs also have some role players on great contracts as well, including Maxi Kleber ($8.9 million), Dorian Finney-Smith ($4.0 million) and Jalen Brunson ($1.8 million). There's no reason why all shouldn't return.

Single Stars Aren't Enough

The overall problem with the Mavericks is the pure averageness of the roster outside of Doncic.

Dallas finished 10th in net rating this season (plus-2.3), although there's still real defensive concerns (112.3 rating, 21st overall). The Mavs were also near the middle of the pack in three-point shooting (36.2 percent, 18th) and rebounding (49.6 percent, 16th) and despite Doncic's playmaking skills, fell to 28th in team assist percentage (55.7 percent).

The Mavs had some good role players in Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Richardson, Kleber, Brunson, Finney-Smith and even Trey Burke at times, with the issue lying primarily with the team's second star.

Dallas officially has a Kristaps Porzingis problem.

The raw numbers for the 25-year-old weren't bad this season. The 7'3" power forward averaged 20.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and was an effective floor-spacer with a 37.6 percent mark from three.

The issues with Porzingis lie in both his injury history and recent playoff performance, especially for someone who's currently dominating the Mavs' payroll with his max contract.

Knee and ankle injuries limited him to just 43 games this season. Porzingis hasn't played in more than 66 contests since his rookie season in 2015-16, and missed the Mavs' final three playoff games last year after tearing his meniscus.

While he played well in two of the three 2020 playoff games for which he was active, Porzingis merely looked like a role player in this latest series against the Clippers.

Averages of 13.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and a measly 29.6 percent mark from three were a huge disappointment, especially against a small Los Angeles team that got just 18 minutes out of Serge Ibaka all series due to injury. When the Mavs needed Porzingis to impose his will, he continually came up short.

If the Mavs wish to trade Porzingis this offseason, they won't get near what they had to give up for him just two years ago. He's owed $65.5 million over the next two seasons with a $36 million player option in 2023-24—something that definitely looks like will get picked up.

Dallas needs to at least explore the trade market and see what offers exist from teams still willing to take a gamble on his potential. Even finding a team with a massive amount of salary-cap space (San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder) to simply take Porzingis and his contract should be an option.

With Doncic looking like a bona-fide alpha, the Mavs need a reliable second star to put next to him. Porzingis just isn't it.

Free Agency Options

This offseason is perhaps the Mavs' last chance utilize free agency to re-shape the roster around Doncic.

Doncic will be eligible to sign a five-year, $201.5 million max extension this offseason. Locking Doncic into an extension would be tremendous for the franchise, but it also severely limits what the team can spend in 2022 and beyond, especially if Porzingis is still on the roster.

Dallas' cap room this summer will depend on Richardson, who carries an $11.6 million player option that the Mavs should hope he turns down.

If Richardson opts to become a free agent, the Mavericks project to carry $36.9 million in cap space, enough for a max contract. If Richardson wants to return on his option, this number gets slashed to $25.3 million. That's enough to sign a really good player, to be sure, but out of max territory.

Dallas will also have a full mid-level exception to use, valued at $9.5 million.

This isn't a great free-agent class, however, as it features players either expected to return to their current teams or well past their primes.

Kawhi Leonard (player option) isn't leaving the Clippers to join the team he just knocked out. John Collins, Jarrett Allen and Lonzo Ball are all restricted free agents. Kyle Lowry, Mike Conley Jr. and Chris Paul (player option) are all 33 and older and don't help solve any long-term issues with the Mavs.

Dallas' best bets would include DeMar DeRozan, Norman Powell, Duncan Robinson, Kelly Oubre Jr., Richaun Holmes and their own free agent, Hardaway. All are either in the primes of their careers or a year or two away.

The Mavs could throw a big offer sheet at a player like Collins or Allen and hope the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers don't match, but that could take a max deal for two guys who don't look like No. 2 options.

Talen Horton-Tucker would be an intriguing name. The 20-year-old Los Angeles Lakers wing has star potential and is a restricted free agent. With so many players in L.A. needing a new contract, the Mavs could try and make an offer the Lakers simply can't match.

Trade Possibilities

The Mavs are limited in trade assets because of the deal for Porzingis, with their 2021 and 2023 first-round picks going to the New York Knicks. Dallas doesn't even possess a pick in this draft, dealing their second-rounder to the New Orleans Pelicans for JJ Redick.

Due to the Stepien Rule, the Mavs can't trade another first-round pick until 2025, yet could offer pick swaps of their 2022 and 2024 firsts.

Josh Green and Tyrell Terry are both current rookies who could be appealing to a rebuilding team, although neither got a real opportunity to show anything of value this season.

Dallas should eye good players that have either fallen out of their current team's plans or come overpriced, thus lowering their trade value. This would include guys like Buddy Hield, Steven Adams and Kemba Walker. CJ McCollum would also be a tremendous trade target if the Portland Trail Blazers decide to shake up their roster.

Unfortunately, the Mavs probably don't have the trade assets to pull off a deal for a true superstar, and will have to get creative by finding some starters or high-level rotation players instead.

Avoid the Quick Fix

While the Mavs should absolutely try to win now, Doncic is still just 22 and will presumably sign a five-year extension this offseason. Barring a trade demand, he'll be in town for a while.

Dallas needs to avoid the mistakes of another young team trying to fill in the gaps around a phenom, as the Cavaliers did with LeBron James from 2003-2010.

Doncic is arguably the most talented player we've seen come into the league since James, and not even the four-time MVP averaged at least 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists over his first three full seasons like only Doncic and Oscar Robertson have.

Like those Cavs, these Mavs got too good, too quick to keep racking up high draft picks with the hopes of selecting another star. Cleveland instead turned to free agency, blowing money on players like Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones following failed pursuits of Ray Allen and Michael Redd. Dallas has to use its free agency money far more wisely.

Poor signings eventually led to poor trades in the Cavs' quest to find James a sidekick, with the deck chairs on the Titanic shuffled from Hughes to an aging Ben Wallace to a recycled Shaquille O'Neal.

Of course, all of these failures eventually made James' decision to leave in unrestricted free agency an easy one—a decision Doncic hopefully won't have to make until 2027.

Dallas needs to find talent that can still grow alongside its star, looking for long-term solutions instead of just year-by-year fixes. As the Redick trade showed this season, quick fixes rarely work.

Getting Doncic to agree to the five-year extension is by far the most important part of the Mavericks' offseason. This is perhaps the team's last chance to spend in free agency, with a trade of Porzingis likely needed.

Paul George had nothing but respect for Luka Doncic on Sunday after the Los Angeles Clippers eliminated the Dallas Mavericks in the first round.

That wasn't just because of the 46 points and 14 assists Doncic notched in a 126-111 Game 7 loss for Dallas, but because of everything the young point guard did throughout the series in general.

Paul George on Luka Dončić:

"Shit, he was a star last year, too. He played off the charts last year. At a young age like that, you knew he could get better. He was even more awesome... his game is just beyond his age. He plays with so much confidence. He has a big future ahead."

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) June 7, 2021

PG and the rest of the Clippers showed love to Luka 🤝

A great series. https://t.co/yDcWk7ySAE

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 6, 2021

Paul made his feelings known immediately after the game by embracing Doncic at midcourt before swapping jerseys with the 22-year-old.

Since Doncic was being mobbed and congratulated by just about everyone on the court, he waited until he was back in the locker room to give Paul his game-worn jersey and complete the swap.

"I did send one after, in the locker room."

Luka on his jersey swap with Paul George https://t.co/WY0kADYWih

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 6, 2021

Paul made clear to note it wasn't just Doncic who put the Clippers on the brink of elimination. It was the entire Dallas team. The Mavericks held leads of 2-0 and 3-2 during the first round series, forcing Los Angeles to rally back against one of the most talented players in the game in order to advance.

"They pushed us," George said. "They definitely got us war-ready. Great team we played. Unbelievable superstar in Luka. They pushed us and played really well. They challenged us."

There's just no question who was leading the way for Dallas.

Doncic scored more than 40 points in Games 3, 5 and 7 while averaging 35.7 points, 10.3 assists and 7.9 rebounds for the series. His outing Sunday saw him factor into 77 points for the Mavs—the most ever by a single player in a Game 7, per Elias Sports Bureau (h/t ESPN's Tim MacMahon).

For now, Doncic's legacy in the postseason appears to be pushing elite opponents to the top of their game when facing him.

Soon, even that might not be enough to stop the Slovenian star.