The Los Angeles Lakers got their player of the future, and they didn’t even have to give up a lot to get him.
Of course, Anthony Davis is a star, but considering his age and what they got for him, this was a move any team would’ve made.
As pointed out by StatMamba on X, this trade for Luka Doncic was the first time two All-NBA players were traded for one another midway through a season.
The first time in history that 2 reigning All-NBA players were traded for each other midseason ? pic.twitter.com/Z2PmQaZUKI
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) February 2, 2025
No one saw this one coming, not even LeBron James.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN revealed that there were no other bidders because the Dallas Mavericks didn’t even shop Doncic around; they just reached out to the Lakers because they coveted Davis.
Even if that were true, one can’t help but feel that the Mavericks got the short end of the stick.
We’ve seen players like Rudy Gobert being traded for multiple first-round picks, and getting just one first-rounder for a player of Doncic’s caliber sounds like terrible asset management.
GM Nico Harrison stated that the Mavs needed to improve their defense, which clearly makes sense.
Davis is an outstanding player and a difference-maker on both ends of the floor.
Then again, as much as he’s a future Hall of Famer, the Mavs just lost a potential top-ten player of all time, a unique talent, and the player who just happened to lead them to the NBA Finals just one season ago.
NEXT: Brian Windhorst Reveals What He's Hearing About Luka Doncic Trade
