The Los Angeles Lakers’ trade for Luka Doncic already looked like a home run. but Brett Siegel’s latest reporting makes it even clearer just how smart the move was. Before landing Doncic, the Lakers had quietly explored trading Anthony Davis after the 2024-25 season, and the offers they were looking at? None of them came anywhere close to a player like Doncic.
In other words, Los Angeles did not just get a superstar; they avoided settling for anything less. Siegel reported on ClutchPoints that “minor conversations were held between Pelinka, other team front-office personnel, and rival teams around the league” about Davis. The Lakers were planning to trade him, but at the same time, they were also ensuring they checked his market value.
At first, other teams didn't take it seriously; one Eastern Conference source even called it “laughable” that Davis would be available, per Siegel. But behind the scenes, the Lakers were ensuring they were prepared for every scenario.
Lakers were eyeing Anthony Davis trade before Luka Doncic deal
Here is why it makes the Doncic trade even bigger. If the Lakers had made a Davis trade before Doncic became an option, it likely would have been a step down. But when things cracked open in Dallas with the whole Nico Harrison uncertainty involving Doncic’s situation, the Lakers pounced.
Internally, the front office had been quietly weighing concerns about Davis for months, which included his long-term reliability and fit for the team’s future. The front office even reached out to Boston, Milwaukee, and Cleveland in late 2024, just feeling out the market. By the time Doncic was realistically available, the Lakers were ready.
They didn't have to scramble. They didn't have to overpay. They could act fast and decisively. And it shows. Doncic is putting up incredible numbers this season so far, averaging 34.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game, playing at an MVP level.
He's in excellent shape; he’s healthy, dominant, and exactly the kind of player you can build around. Meanwhile, any previous Davis trade options would have been a far cry from this.
Looking back, it's obvious that the Lakers didn't just make a great trade. They avoided a mediocre one and landed a generational talent instead. Siegel’s reporting gives a peek behind the curtain, showing just how much planning, timing, and patience went into one of the smartest moves the franchise has made in years.