The NBA has a reputation for never failing to surprise but even by those lofty standards, it has outdone itself this time with Luka Doncic getting traded to the LA Lakers.
The superstar duo in Los Angeles is no more as Anthony Davis goes the other way, along with Max Christie, and the Lakers’ first-round pick in 2029.
The LA Lakers get Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris, with Utah the third team, getting Hood-Schifino and two second-round picks.
The fact that Doncic didn’t request a trade, and the Dallas Mavericks approached the LA Lakers on their own makes it so much more surprising, but Mavs GM Nico Harrison explained his reasoning.
The Mavs are hovering on the precipice of playoffs, standing eighth in the West with a record of 26-23, probably not what they had in mind with Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.
Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison said after the trade that this move is for the Mavs to “win now”, with a pointed remark towards Doncic and the difference in mindset between Davis and the Slovenian.
| LA Lakers get | Dallas Mavericks get | Utah Jazz get |
| Luka Doncic | Anthony Davis | Hood-Schifino |
| Maxi Kleber | Max Christie | 2 2nd-round picks |
| Markief Morris | 2029 Lakers 1st-round pick |
Harrison said (via ESPN): ‘I believe that defense wins championships. 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.”
James’ partnership with Davis was going well with James showing no signs of slowing down but there’s a reason the Lakers jumped on this chance when the Mavs approached them.
The Lakers lack capable ball-handlers who can create their own shot beyond James which is precisely what Doncic excels at.
The trade unites probably the two most intelligent basketball players currently in the world and that’s bad news for the rest of the NBA, but extremely good news for LeBron James.
It was barely a few days ago when Mark Cuban was calling out the NBA for not giving Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic their flowers for the NBA All-Star game.
Amid reports that Mavs were the ones who initiated the move, it’s hardly a good look for the owner who has been openly one of Doncic’s biggest supporters.
It seemed like the Slovenian was set to be the heir to Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas but it has all gone up in smoke, made even worse in optics due to what transpired in the lead-up to it. Nowitzki didn’t hide his bewilderment at the move with a single emoji.
Hardly the endorsement of Cuban’s clarity in a direction for the team.
If the reports are true and Doncic didn’t request a trade, which looks likely after reading Harrison’s statement, then he’s emerged from this as a winner.
The Mavs clearly didn’t value his skill set enough and he’s just made a jump to a more “high-profile” team, for the lack of a better word.
Uniting with LeBron James is already a blockbuster prospect but even beyond James, Doncic can now become the poster boy for the Lakers where it’s much easier to land stars.
However, Paul Pierce gave an iffy verdict on the trade, questioning the fit of LeBron James alongside Luke Doncic. He said: “LeBron and Luka I don’t see fitting.”
Ultimately, great players find a way of fitting alongside each other, especially next to someone like James, who’s a jack of all trades and a master of them too!
One thing’s for sure – the rest of the NBA season just became very, very exciting.
