NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Saturday that he is “empathetic” toward fans upset with the Dallas Mavericks over the Luka Doncic trade, but does not believe the Mavs had ulterior motives in moving the 25-year-old point guard.
The commissioner also noted that he thinks Dallas GM Nico Harrison genuinely did what he thought was in the “best interest” of the organization by making the trade.
“In terms of anger with the fan base, I’m empathetic,” Silver said during an All-Star Weekend press conference. “I understand it. Dallas was in the Finals last year. I’ve also said this before: I like Luka very much. … It seems genuinely, truly authentic that he was stunned and disappointed. You could see it in his body language.
“Having said…