The Dallas Mavericks had Giannis Antetokounmpo in their sights for more than two years. Whatever personnel decisions they made in the last couple years, they always kept an eye on the summer of 2021. That was when Antetokounmpo was set to become a free agent and possibly leave Milwaukee.
The fit with Luka Doncic is obvious, so it’s no wonder that Mavericks wanted to add the two-time MVP. But the dream of the young European superstars being teammates faded away when Antetokounmpo signed a five year extension with the Bucks in 2020. Free agency is always a gamble, but especially so with franchise players.