In a stunning move that has shifted the NBA’s Western Conference dramatically, the Lakers, Mavericks, and Jazz agreed to a blockbuster trade, sending Luka Doncic to Los Angeles while Anthony Davis heads to Dallas.

The Lakers acquired Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris from the Mavericks. In return, Dallas received Davis, Max Christie and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick.

As part of the trade, the Jazz received Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2025 second-round pick from the Clippers, and another 2025 second-rounder from the Mavericks.

“I believe that defense wins championships,” Mavericks’ general manager Nico Harrison said, elaborating on the thought process behind swapping Doncic for Davis. “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.”

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.

The Mavericks initiated the trade discussions a few days ago. Harrison and Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka have known each other for years, having worked closely with Kobe Bryant – Harrison as his Nike marketing manager and Pelinka as his agent.

The entire Lakers organization, from the front office to ownership and the coaching staff, were all on the same page about the trade, thrilled to land Doncic knowing that acquiring a generational talent requires giving up significant assets.

“Luka is a one-of-a-kind, young global superstar who will lead this franchise for years to come,” Pelinka shared in a statement issued by the team. “His killer instincts and commitment to winning championships will be a driving force for the team. We will be relentless in building a roster around the on-court vision Coach Redick has for this basketball team and there is an unwavering commitment to that work to serve our loyal and dedicated fans. We are grateful for today and look forward to what’s next.”

After the Lakers and Mavericks struck the deal, Pelinka made a series of three calls: one to Davis and Lakers coach JJ Redick, another to Davis’ agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, and the final one to LeBorn James.

Harrison revealed that he sent a text to Doncic and left him a voicemail.

“My guess is he probably doesn’t want to talk to me,” he said.

The news of the trade reached James while he was out to dinner with his family after Saturday’s win over the Knicks. He was shocked by the news, and neither Davis nor Doncic were informed ahead of time either.

James has no intention of leaving the Lakers before Thursday’s trade deadline.

Davis agreed to waive his $5.9 million trade kicker in the deal. This move was made to provide the Mavericks salary cap flexibility, allowing them to stay competitive, while also acknowledging that he can make the money back through potential contract extensions with Dallas down the line.

Davis is under contract until 2028, with a player option for the 2027-28 season, but he’s eligible for an extension after next year. The Lakers were not going to extend him.

Dallas was driven to trade Doncic due to ongoing concerns about his conditioning. The organization had been frustrated with his lack of discipline when it came to his diet and conditioning, which they believed played a significant role in his recurring injuries.

Doncic’s weight reached the high 260s early this season. He missed five games in late November, with the Mavericks listing him with a sprained right wrist, but it also served as a break for him to work on his conditioning.

Doncic has only played 22 games this season due to multiple injuries. He has suffered two left calf strains since arriving in Dallas before training camp in late September, with the Mavericks only listing the recent injury as a calf contusion.

Since re-injuring his calf on Christmas Day, Doncic has been out hopes to return before the All-Star break later this month. Meanwhile, Davis has missed the Lakers’ past two games due to an abdominal muscle strain.

“We really feel like we got ahead of what was going to be a tumultuous summer, him being eligible for the supermax and also a year away from him being able to opt out of any contract,” Harrison said. “And so we really felt like we got out in front of that. We know teams, they’ve had it out there, teams have been loading up to try to sign him once that comes available.”

Doncic finished third in MVP voting last season, posting averages of 33.9 points, 9.8 assists, and 9.2 rebounds per game. He will turn 26 later this month.

Davis, who was selected as an All-Star for the 10th time in his career, will turn 32 next month. He was also named to the NBA’s 75th anniversary team and contributed significantly to the Lakers’ 2020 NBA title in the bubble.

“We are overwhelmingly thankful for AD’s six seasons with the Lakers, where he led our franchise to a championship and cemented himself as a perennial NBA All-Star,” Pelinka said. “We are proud of Max Christie’s development as a Laker as he has grown into an impact 3-and-D player and we are appreciative of the work Jalen Hood-Schifino has put in to show professionalism at every level.”

Doncic has an average of 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game this season, while Davis is averaging 25.7 points and 11.9 rebounds.

Read more about:

Leave a comment

Avery Torff

Article by Avery Torff

Listen to the uInterview Podcast!
Get the most-revealing celebrity conversations with the uInterview podcast!