Imagine delivering a trade that was so fundamentally questionable that the NBA world was pondering if the most reliable insider in the business was hacked. When Shams Charania broke the news last night, the public did not believe it was real. A top three player in the world was traded.
Yes, this is real. Sources tell ESPN: Full trade:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2025
- 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
A 25-year-old MVP caliber of superstar was dealt for what felt like a fraction of Luka Doncic's worth. With all due respect to Anthony Davis, who is a tremendous superstar in his own right, and Max Christie, who is a quality young player, this should not be the deal for a player of Doncic's caliber. This is especially the case with only one first-round pick accompanying them on the way to the Dallas Mavericks.
Rob Pelinka and the Los Angeles Lakers front office were handed a golden goose for the price of silver hen. There is still a lot left to be figured out now that this deal is in the books. However, one thing is certain, the Lakers did not simply win this trade, they committed highway robbery.
The Mavericks' reasoning for dealing Doncic is puzzling
The first point that is highly relevant to explaining just how baffling this situation was needs to be the fact that the Mavericks actually approached the Lakers with the desire to trade Doncic, not the other way around. Charania included that major point last night.
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
Pelinka and company must have been shocked at the opportunity that was put in front of them. They were not about to waste it.
What was truly puzzling had to be the report from ESPN's Tim MacMahon on why Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison decided to go through with this trade.
"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."Tim MacMahon
A 'win-now trade' that consists of moving the player who led your franchise to the NBA Finals in the previous season is certainly not what most people would consider a deal to help push a team closer to a championship. There was more to this deal, according to reports.
MacMahon offered more insight into the situation. It does not make the Mavericks sound a lot more logical in the process.
"The Mavs had major concerns about moving forward with Luka Doncic due to his constant conditioning issues and the looming commitment of another supermax contract extension this summer, sources told ESPN."Tim MacMahon
When the dust settled, the Lakers were positioned to reap the rewards of a franchise approaching the bargaining table with a mindset that no one quite understands.
What is abundantly clear after this deal would be this: the Lakers are not only positioned to win in the present with Doncic, but they should have every opportunity to be a competitive team for the next decade with the young superstar. This was an absolute steal of a trade for the Lakers.