Luka Doncic has been traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Anthony Davis goes to the Dallas Mavericks. This isn’t a joke, and it simply is perhaps the wildest commerce in NBA historical past.
The Lakers are additionally receiving Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris within the deal. The Mavericks getting again the Lakers’ 2029 first-round choose and Max Christie along with Davis. The Utah Jazz obtained concerned within the deal, too, including Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2025 Clippers second-round choose, and a 2025 Mavericks second-round choose.
Luka Doncic actually obtained traded to the Lakers for Anthony Davis. ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the information, and needed to affirm that that is an precise commerce, as a result of it’s simply that arduous to imagine.
Sure, that is actual. Sources inform ESPN: Full commerce:
– Lakers: Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris
– Mavericks: Anthony Davis, Max Christie, 2029 LAL 1st
– Jazz: Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2025 Clippers 2nd, 2025 Mavericks 2nd https://t.co/bltojdTaQj
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2025
There have been no whispers that both Doncic or Davis may very well be traded this season. Doncic turns 26 years outdated on the finish of February, and is already a five-time First-Staff All-NBA choice.
Davis turns 32 years outdated in March.
The Mavericks reportedly approached the Lakers concerning the commerce, and the 2 sides agreed to it within the early Sunday morning hours on the East Coast.
The Mavericks approached the Lakers lately and supplied Luka Doncic, sources inform ESPN. Lakers brass met and believed the 25-year-old Doncic has the flexibility to be the face of their franchise for the following decade whereas giving Anthony Davis a win-now transfer in Dallas.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2025
Mavs GM Nico Harrison supplied a shocking quote after the commerce:
“I imagine that protection wins championships,” Mavs GM Nico Harrison instructed ESPN concerning his motivation to commerce Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis. “I imagine that getting an All-Defensive middle and an All-NBA participant with a defensive mindset offers us a greater probability. We’re constructed to… https://t.co/iPfQvA4str
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 2, 2025
Doncic didn’t ask for a commerce out of Dallas. The Mavericks did this on their very own accord.
The Mavs had main considerations about shifting ahead with Luka Doncic on account of his fixed conditioning points and the looming dedication of one other supermax contract extension this summer season, sources instructed ESPN.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 2, 2025
It’s surprising that the Mavericks would do that deal given the age distinction between the 2 gamers. The Lakers one way or the other simply landed the most effective gamers within the NBA, and paired him with a 40-year-old LeBron James. Doncic and James have such related video games that this doesn’t really feel like a complementary pairing. It’s nonetheless a no brainer for a Lakers group that was caught in mediocrity.
Doncic is at the moment sidelined with a calf harm for the Mavericks.
Dallas reached the 2024 NBA Finals with Doncic final season. The Mavericks will stay a championship contender with Davis becoming a member of Kyrie Irving in Dallas. The Mavs will pair Davis with Dereck Energetic II for the most important and most athletic entrance court docket within the league, however they misplaced an offensive creation supernova in Doncic. It’s laborious to think about the Lakers may turn into contenders this season with Doncic, however the Mavs ought to nonetheless vie for the Western Convention crown with Davis.
We will’t imagine that is actual. We’ll replace this story because it develops.