Have heard a rather convincing argument that this was all about the Adelsons not wanting to sink super max salary money into a player in Dallas when there has been no movement and no path forward for them to build a casino in Dallas next to the Mavs eventual new arena. Adelsons are in the casino business, not the sports franchise ownership business and our (no CR) political heros in Austin ain't gonna let casino gambling happen anytime soon. Adelsons thought they could buy their way into legalized gambling in Texas but made a massive miscalculation due to all the big political players that could make casino gambling happen already being bought off by factions that do not want casino gambling. If that happened to be paired with a little birdie at the league office telling them if they wanted to unload Luka they will have cover if they give the Lakers the exclusive negotiating rights because it's what is best for the league, you very easily get to the point where what has occurred happens. The Adelsons then dismantle the Mavs and kill off any goodwill left lcoally towards getting an arena deal done and turn around to the NBA governors and say: "look at this, we can't get a new arena, woe is us we need to move" and off to Vegas they go...