A stunning overnight trade between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers saw Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic traded to the Lakers for future Hall-of-Famer Anthony Davis. Other pieces were exchanged as part of a broader three-team deal with the Utah Jazz, but the focus is on the superstars changing uniforms.
BREAKING: The Dallas Mavericks are trading Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick, sources tell @ShamsCharania. Three-team deal that includes Utah. pic.twitter.com/joU6bXqnBJ
— ESPN (@espn) February 2, 2025
What does this mean for the Lakers and Mavericks? Let’s get into it.
Who Is In Charge?
Let’s get the formalities out of the way. The trade was orchestrated by Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, a former Nike executive best known for allegedly botching the shoe presentation to future Hall-of-Famer Steph Curry. This prompted Curry to shift towards the Under Armor brand. This was NOT a move by Mark Cuban. The former Dallas Mavericks owner sold his majority stake in the franchise in 2023.
Mark Cuban on how far he’d go to keep Luka Doncic on the Dallas Mavericks: “If I had to choose between my wife and keeping Luka on the Mavs, catch me at my lawyers office preparing for a divorce.”https://t.co/GMogiMhKmI pic.twitter.com/BrTgJ1AGSY
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) August 29, 2020
This was Harrison’s take on the trade.
“I believe that defense wins championships,” Harrison said of ending up with Davis, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “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.”
Nico Harrison watched his Dallas Mavericks make an insane run to the NBA Finals last season and decided that Luka Doncic did not match his championship vision.
Time will tell if that is Harrison’s public truth while he carries private conditioning concerns or re-signing concerns with Luka Doncic.
They were just in the NBA finals because of him https://t.co/cFXeqa2sA7
— 8/13(@Indicurt) February 2, 2025
Rob Pelinka is the current general manager of the Lakers. He sees what most in the NBA see in Doncic’s superstardom. Pelinka was even willing to part with one of his most prized acquisitions to make it happen.
Imagine the phone call
— Tony Niehaus (@BigT44DFS) February 2, 2025
Mavs- “we want AD”
Lakers- “not available”
Mavs- “for Luka”
Lakers- “AD will be there in the morning”
This move solidifies the Lakers’ future after LeBron James, provided they can sign Doncic to a long-term deal. Luka getting traded negates the possibility of a supermax contract. This means that the best Lakers’ offer will be in line with the maximum cap space other teams can offer. Pelinka has work to do to keep the team competitive while deterring potential poachers.
What the Doncic Trade Means For the Lakers
It was shocking when Shaquille O’Neal left the Magic to join the Lakers in free agency. I was shocked again when the Lakers were able to trade a minor package to Memphis for Hall-of-Famer Pau Gasol. LeBron James leaving his hometown Cavaliers to join LA was wild, as was the eventual trade of young players for superstar Anthony Davis. Every single one of these moves made in my lifetime led to championships. This doesn’t even include other moves like the rescinded Chris Paul trade or the Dwight Howard trade. The Lakers have shown a knack for the spectacular.
Luka Doncic to the Lakers is a spectacular move. Doncic is an offensive maestro and top-three MVP candidate who knows how to put on a show. He has been this writer’s favorite player since joining the league in 2018. Doncic captivates audiences with spectacular passes and incredible shot-making that rivals any superstar NBA player, past or present. His fit in LA will be seamless because Doncic is a threat on or off the ball.
The Mavericks approached the Lakers recently and offered Luka Doncic, sources tell ESPN. Lakers brass met and believed the 25-year-old Doncic has the ability to be the face of their franchise for the next decade while giving Anthony Davis a win-now move in Dallas.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2025
It gets even better. The Lakers only gave up one future first-round pick in this deal. They still have significant ammo for roster upgrades before the trade deadline. With his son Bronny James in tow, LeBron James may be looking at his best chance yet at a fifth ring.
With a healthy Luka Doncic and LeBron James, the NBA Western Conference has another threat to contend with.
What the Doncic Trade Means for the Mavericks
Time will tell. As of this writing, we have no word on how Mavericks superstar guard Kyrie Irving feels about the trade. One would imagine that Irving’s entire reasoning for remaining a Maverick just got traded. Combined with Nico Harrison’s thirst for defense, Irving may seek greener pastures elsewhere. Some possibilities include a trade with Houston in a package centered around young defensive stud Amen Thompson. Perhaps another blockbuster superstar move to acquire Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat.
As it stands, the Mavericks will struggle to be competitive if Anthony Davis is not healthy. However, if Davis is healthy, the Mavericks still need time to remake their team to fit Harrison’s defensive vision and the vision of head coach Jason Kidd, who I imagine had a say in the trade as well.
I agree completely. The Mavs must’ve had some indication that Luka could have demanded a trade this offseason, one year ahead of his free agency. And if that happened they would’ve had zero leverage. Has to be much more to it than just his weight and conditioning. https://t.co/ysf2wiOVQJ
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) February 2, 2025
A healthy Anthony Davis is an All-Star starter this year who recently dropped a 40/20 game. Davis has played 20 more games than Luka Doncic this season and is a win-now defensive anchor.
Anthony Davis waived his trade kicker (a contractual monetary compensation to a traded player), which helped facilitate the deal. This indicates that Davis was receptive to the idea of leaving the Lakers, a notion that is a common theme among former Lakers. Anthony Davis is currently dealing with an abdominal strain and was scheduled to be reevaluated on February 08.
Jokes aside, if the Mavs didn’t trust Luka staying… then adding AD is a great piece to compete *now*.
— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) February 2, 2025
Obviously there are healthy concerns for both… but Davis doubled Luka in games played. Still madness.
What’s Next for NBA Trade Season?
The NBA generates significant public interest during this time of the year, and the first major domino of the NBA trade season has fallen. Will Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox get moved too? Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young? What will the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder do with their assets? The trade deadline is February 06, so more to come.
Who in their right mind watches Luka Doncic do this and then trades him less than a year later?pic.twitter.com/zk5Dkc5MLC
— Michael Bier (@MichaelJBier) February 2, 2025
Photo Credit for featured cover image: Getty Images.
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2 Comments
I believe Dallas won the trade to win now and be in position to win for at least 3 more years. Lakers won for the future if Luka will get his act together as far as staying in shape.
I believe Luka will go back to the Mavericks next year or the year after. Then they will have Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irvin, and Luka Doncic! Remember Dwayne Wade leaving Miami and coming back? What was all that about?