Dallas Mavericks Shut Down Las Vegas Relocation Gossip

Despite recent speculation, the Dallas Mavericks have no intention of relocating to Las Vegas following their high-profile trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The blockbuster deal, which traded the 25-year-old from Slovenia to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis and additional assets, implied the trade was part of a larger plan to shift the franchise to Vegas. 

Nonetheless, team officials have firmly dismissed the claims.

Similar rumors emerged in 2023 when the families of Dr. Miriam Adelson, the majority shareholder of Las Vegas Sands Corp., and Patrick Dumont, Sands president and chief operating officer, acquired a controlling interest in the Mavericks from former owner Mark Cuban. 

The rumors suggested that the new ownership’s strong connection to Sin City could eventually lead to a franchise move. However, the Mavericks appear to remain steadfast in their unaltered commitment to Dallas.

“Committed to Investing and Building in Dallas/Fort Worth”

“The Adelson and Dumont families have already started and are committed to investing and building in Dallas/Fort Worth,” the Mavericks said in a statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 

“The families have absolutely no plans to move the team out of North Texas,” the statement further read. 

General manager Nico Harrison reiterated this message to team employees during a conference call on Monday.

Currently, the Adelson and Dumont families own 70% of the Mavericks, while Cuban retains a 27% stake in the franchise. 

Along with acquiring the team, the new majority owners also purchased real estate in downtown Dallas, including the site of the team’s practice facility.

Additionally, Las Vegas Sands secured 108 acres in Irving, Texas, next to the stadiums of the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. 

The location has the potential to house both a resort-casino and a new arena, reinforcing the ownership’s investment in Texas rather than Nevada.

Las Vegas Sands has been actively lobbying for the legalization of casino gambling in Texas, a legislative effort that is expected to be revisited in the coming year.

Las Vegas, a Primary Contender for a Future Team 

Meanwhile, Las Vegas is still a top contender for NBA expansion. Commissioner Adam Silver has repeatedly acknowledged the city as a prime candidate for a future team, stating that the league was evaluating potential markets.

“There’s a process outlined in the NBA constitution for teams to apply to the league, in respects to their partners, that they have the desire to relocate,” Silver explained. 

However, he went on to clarify that he was not aware of any current teams seeking to move.

Earlier in the week, we reported on the story of three NBA teams, North Carolina A&T, Eastern Michigan, and Mississippi Valley State, respectively, that were reportedly facing federal scrutiny in what is thought to be a complex inquiry into the gambling ring that led to the ban of Jontay Porter and several arrests.