The surprising blockbuster Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade sent shockwaves throughout the NBA. The Dallas Mavericks questionably look to bolster their roster by adding one of the best defenders in the NBA at the cost of someone who just led them to the NBA Finals. Somehow, the Los Angeles Lakers managed to follow up their Kobe Bryant and LeBron James eras with another generational superstar in Doncic.
The Lakers are the clear winners of this deal. This move will benefit them long-term as Doncic is only 25 years old and can bridge the gap to keep the Lakers competitive even after James' looming retirement. It should also help their title odds in the short term, as James and Doncic are two of the best talents in the league.
They'll be incredibly difficult to prepare for as both are crafty playmakers who utilize their size to take advantage of mismatches. Admittedly, the fit isn't ideal, as both players are at their best with the ball in their hands. But both are capable floor spacers and have high basketball IQs; they'll be able to figure it out on the offensive end.
Robert Williams III is a clear fit for Lakers now that Anthony Davis is gone
The more significant concern lies on the defensive end, which is why the Mavericks GM Nico Harrison made the trade in the first place:
“I believe that defense wins championships,” Mavs GM Nico Harrison told ESPN regarding his motivation to trade Luka Doncic for Anthony 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… https://t.co/iPfQvA4str
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 2, 2025
Prior to the trade, the two targets that were linked to the Lakers were Washington's Jonas Valanciunas and Portland's Robert Williams III, according to Bleacher Reports' Jake Fischer. Williams already seemed like a great fit for the Lakers prior to the Davis trade, but it seems even more obvious now that Los Angeles no longer has their Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
It remains to be seen what starting lineup JJ Redick decides to go with now that he has yet another versatile superstar at his disposal. One possible lineup is Doncic, Austin Reaves, James, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Jaxson Hayes. Although he's an athletic and serviceable center in stretches, Hayes is the one glaring weakness in that starting five.
Los Angeles' previous team identity was length, but now their frontcourt is undersized. That could be their Achilles heel come playoff time, as other Western Conference contenders have plenty of size. The Memphis Grizzlies have a plethora of bigs at their disposal. The Oklahoma City Thunder, when healthy, can pair Chet Holmgren with Isaiah Hartenstein. The Denver Nuggets have Nikola Jokic.
It's clear that the Lakers need to address this hole in their roster with another follow-up move at the deadline.