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 could be 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 decide and Max Christie along with Davis. The Utah Jazz bought concerned within the deal, too, including Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2025 Clippers second-round decide, and a 2025 Mavericks second-round decide.
Luka Doncic actually bought 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 consider.
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 Doncic turns 26 years outdated on the finish of February, and is already a five-time First-Workforce All-NBA choice.
Davis turns 32 years outdated in March.
The Mavericks reportedly had issues about Doncic’s conditioning stage. Doncic was in line for a $345 million tremendous max contract, and Dallas didn’t need to give it to him.
The Mavs had main issues about transferring ahead with Luka Doncic as a result of his fixed conditioning points and the looming dedication of one other supermax contract extension this summer time, sources advised ESPN.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 2, 2025
The Mavs approached the Lakers in regards to the commerce, and the 2 sides agreed to it within the early Sunday morning hours on the East Coast.
The Mavericks approached the Lakers just lately and provided Luka Doncic, sources inform ESPN. Lakers brass met and believed the 25-year-old Doncic has the power 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 provided a shocking quote after the commerce:
“I consider that protection wins championships,” Mavs GM Nico Harrison advised ESPN relating to his motivation to commerce Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis. “I consider that getting an All-Defensive middle and an All-NBA participant with a defensive mindset provides 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 issues about transferring ahead with Luka Doncic as a result of his fixed conditioning points and the looming dedication of one other supermax contract extension this summer time, sources advised ESPN.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 2, 2025
It’s stunning that the Mavericks would do that deal given the age distinction between the 2 gamers. The Lakers by some means simply landed probably the greatest 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 staff that was caught in mediocrity.
Doncic is at present sidelined with a calf damage for the Mavericks.
Doncic, Davis, and James had no thought this was coming. Right here’s Charania’s full report in regards to the deal:
“This deal materialized within the shadows … LeBron James had no thought this was coming. Anthony Davis had no thought this was coming. I’m advised Luka Doncic remains to be shocked about this commerce.”@ShamsCharania on the Anthony Davis-Luka Doncic commerce between the Lakers and Mavericks pic.twitter.com/Hp4bL3UX2M
— ESPN (@espn) February 2, 2025
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 Full of life II for the most important and most athletic entrance courtroom within the league, however they misplaced an offensive creation supernova in Doncic. It’s exhausting to think about the Lakers might change into contenders this season with Doncic, however the Mavs ought to nonetheless vie for the Western Convention crown with Davis.
We will’t consider that is actual. We’ll replace this story because it develops.