In one of the most surprising trades in NBA history, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired superstar Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks. Anthony Davis will be heading to Dallas in a blockbuster three-team deal that also includes the Utah Jazz.
Here is the deal in full, according to ESPN's Shams Charania:
BREAKING: The Dallas Mavericks are trading Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Three-team deal that includes Utah.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2025
This is a head-scratching trade for the Dallas Mavericks
It's a questionable decision for the Mavericks' general manager, Nico Harrison. It was so questionable that many didn't even believe the trade had happened, as many wondered if Shams was hacked on X (formerly Twitter).
But this is why the NBA is so great; you never know what will happen.
As for Dallas' reasoning, ESPN's Tim MacMahon mentioned that the Mavericks were concerned about Doncic's conditioning and looming contract. They also wanted to build a championship defensive identity around Davis.
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 (@espn_macmahon) February 2, 2025
This trade sets Dallas back both in the short and long term. Their new superstar duo of Kyrie Irving and Davis may be better balanced, but elite superstars win you championships in the NBA.
Doncic has yet to do that, but he's already gotten Dallas to a Finals appearance. It's surprising that they don't want to see it through with someone who is arguably a top-five player in the league. He should have been considered untouchable.
Lakers' franchise-altering trade is bad news for Blazers' timeline
The Lakers are the obvious winners of the deal. It positions them as legitimate threats to get out of the Western Conference in the short term. In the long term, they somehow managed to acquire another superstar to take over as the face of the franchise when 40-year-old LeBron James eventually retires. The latter is what the Portland Trail Blazers should be more concerned about.
Doncic is just entertaining his prime at 25 years old and should have the Lakers atop the West for a long time. The Blazers already had to worry about the San Antonio Spurs with Victor Wembanyama and the sustainable juggernaut in the Oklahoma City Thunder, two young teams whose timelines match Portland's. But now, the Lakers are also in that mix.
Another thing to consider is the Lakers' draft capital. Los Angeles has been rumored to have interest in players like Robert Williams III and should be even more inclined to upgrade their frontcourt after losing AD. But the Lakers' picks aren't as intriguing now that they should be a playoff team for at least another decade, with Doncic shockingly now in the equation.
The Blazers will have a chance to see how they fare against the new-look Lakers on Thursday, February 20, at the Moda Center.