Los Angeles Lakers Acquire Superstar Luka Doncic, Send Anthony Davis to Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic talking in a Press Conference in 2021.
The Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic talking in a Press Conference in 2021. Photo by Igor Kupljenik/MI-PRESS/Shutterstock (12255974v)

The Los Angeles Lakers just pulled off one of the most shocking NBA trades in recent memory. The Lakers announced on Sunday that they have acquired superstar Luka Doncic in a trade that also sent All-Star Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks.

Aside from Davis, the Lakers also gave up promising wing Max Christie and their 2029 first-round pick to land one of the best basketball players in the world. On top of Doncic, the Lakers will also get center  Maxi Kleber and veteran forward Markieff Morris.

Utah Jazz was also involved in the deal, taking on Jalen Hood-Schifino from the Lakers to make the money work and landing two second-round selections in exchange.

The trade understandably created great confusion around the league. Doncic is a generational talent who made five straight All-NBA First Teams before turning 26. He is also an amazing all-around offensive player, with current career averages of 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists. The feeling is that despite getting back Davis, the Mavs could have netted a much bigger haul.

However, it appears that Dallas simply wanted to move on from their franchise star as quickly as possible. According to multiple reports, it was actually the Mavs who approached the Lakers about the potential deal. Apparently, the Mavs were worried about Doncic’s conditioning and his lackluster approach to his diet. They were also wary about giving him a five-year, $345 million super-max extension for which he would be eligible next summer.

Of course, the Lakers don’t have any of those concerns. They jumped on the opportunity to get another big star, one that will ensure they remain competitive for years to come while creating a window in which Doncic and LeBron James join forces and attempt to bring another title to Los Angeles.

Harley loves music and tries to go to a music festival every summer. When he's not listening to music, he writes about movies, food and wine, art, and sport.