The mid-season three-team trade by the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and the Utah Jazz has sent shockwaves across the NBA. Exchanging two of the league’s best players, Luka Dončić and Anthony Davis, was never in a million years expected, but here’s what you need to know.
On February 2, the Lakers acquired Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris from the Mavericks. In return, the Mavericks received Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round draft pick.
Both Dončić and Davis were shocked to hear the news. In a Lakers press conference last Tuesday, Dončić replied to a question on his reaction to the trade, “That’s their decision; I have no comment on that. They made a decision, I don’t know why … I can’t do anything about it,”
This is shocking because fans never thought the Mavericks would trade their superstar Slovenian player. Lakers own superstar Lebron James shared that he initially believed the trade was a hoax.
Many fans believe that the Mavericks destroyed their relationship with their fan base because most of the Mavericks fans will follow Dončić to Los Angeles.
The Mavericks general manager defended their decision, “I believe that defense wins championships,” Nico Harrison said to ESPN via 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.”
Looking ahead, both teams are getting ready for extreme transitions. The first major test for both teams will come on February 25, when the Lakers and Mavericks face off in Los Angeles.
