Luka Doncic has been traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Anthony Davis is going to the Dallas Mavericks. This is not a joke, and it just might be the wildest trade in NBA history.
The Lakers are also receiving Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris in the deal. The Mavericks getting back the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick and Max Christie in addition to Davis. The Utah Jazz got involved in the deal, too, adding Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2025 Clippers second-round pick, and a 2025 Mavericks second-round pick.
Luka Doncic really got traded to the Lakers for Anthony Davis. ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news, and had to confirm that this is an actual trade, because it’s just that hard to believe.
Yes, this is real. Sources tell ESPN: Full trade:
– 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
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2025
There were no whispers that either Doncic or Davis could be traded this season. Doncic turns 26 years old at the end of February, and is already a five-time First-Team All-NBA selection.
Davis turns 32 years old in March.
The Mavericks reportedly approached the Lakers about the trade, and the two sides agreed to it in the early Sunday morning hours on the East Coast.
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
Mavs GM Nico Harrison offered a stunning quote after the trade:
“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
Doncic did not ask for a trade out of Dallas. The Mavericks did this on their own accord.
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
It’s shocking that the Mavericks would do this deal given the age difference between the two players. The Lakers somehow just landed one of the best players in the NBA, and paired him with a 40-year-old LeBron James. Doncic and James have such similar games that this does not feel like a complementary pairing. It’s still a no-brainer for a Lakers team that was stuck in mediocrity.
Doncic is currently sidelined with a calf injury for the Mavericks.
Dallas reached the 2024 NBA Finals with Doncic last season. The Mavericks will remain a championship contender with Davis joining Kyrie Irving in Dallas. The Mavs will pair Davis with Dereck Lively II for the biggest and most athletic front court in the league, but they lost an offensive creation supernova in Doncic. It’s hard to imagine the Lakers could become contenders this season with Doncic, but the Mavs should still vie for the Western Conference crown with Davis.
We can’t believe this is real. We’ll update this story as it develops.
