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As the dust settles on the news of the Dallas Mavericks trading star guard Luka Doncic, fans and the city of Dallas were left absolutely gutted.

This controversial trade represents a shift in identity, expectation and vision for the future of the team. Countless fans have voiced their decision to stop supporting the team because of it.

While it’s not what the fans wanted or had ever thought this would happen, the trade is done, and Doncic has already made his debut as a Los Angeles Laker.

Conspiracies about the trade have already spiraled. The biggest one is how the owners want to tank the team to move them to Las Vegas for gambling reasons. If this is true in any case, wouldn’t it make more sense to continue to support the team and not play in their hands?

Yes, the future seems bleak because we lost “the face” of the team, but that doesn’t mean all is lost. The Mavs still have a solid team with several key players like Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson.

One of the arguments is how the Mavs didn’t get much in return when in fact they did. We received forward Anthony Davis, a superstar in his own right. He’s a 10-time NBA All-Star, two-time gold medalist and a 2014 International Basketball Federation World Champion. He adds a different set of skills this Mavs team needs.

General Manager Nico Harrison said the team is looking at the next 4-5 years rather than 10 years for a championship.

“I believe that defense wins championships,” he told ESPN. “I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future.”

Mavs governor Patrick Dumont spoke out against the theory of relocating in a statement he made.

“The Dallas Mavericks are not moving to Las Vegas,” he said. “That is the answer, unequivocally. The Dallas Mavericks are the Dallas Mavericks, and they will be in Dallas.”

This changes the team’s trajectory in ways that are hard to predict. However, it’s not the end for the Mavs but rather the beginning of a new chapter with a different set of challenges and opportunities.

The future without Luka is uncertain, but it’s far from over. The emotional attachment to him will always be there. The Mavs have an opportunity to reshape their identity over the next few years to go after a championship.

As history has shown, the NBA is full of surprises, and the Dallas Mavericks’ next chapter could be just as exciting as the one Luka helped write.