The Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks on Saturday, then made one of the most shocking deals in NBA history.
The team is sending Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris in a three team deal that also includes the Utah Jazz, 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
News of the trade was so jarring that many speculated Charania’s account could have been hacked, but reporters from both the Los Angeles Times and the Dallas Morning News quickly confirmed it. There was no prior indication at all that either team was looking to move an All-Star.
Marc Stein reports that Dončić did not request a trade and it was in fact the Mavericks who approached the Lakers about the league-altering deal. The move reportedly blindsided him. Even LeBron James, with his reputation as the Lakers’ de facto GM, was reportedly out at dinner when the trade hit and had no idea it was coming.
It’s hard to think of a trade with anything close to a precedent to Saturday’s blockbuster. Superstars have been traded for each other before, but never midseason and rarely with no request from either side.
The deal swaps out Davis for Dončić as LeBron James’ co-star, though it may be more accurate to say Dončić will be the star long term. Dončić is currently out with a calf injury, but has made five straight All-NBA first teams at 25 years old. The Lakers were facing a potential slide over the next few years as both James and Davis aged, but this changes everything.
As for the Mavericks, they are moving on from a player their fans never expected to leave, and they don’t seem to be receiving much beyond Davis, a player who can impact a game on both ends of the floor but has rarely succeeded as a team’s offensive focal point.
Mavericks general manager defended the move with a tried-and-true line, via ESPN’s Tim McMahon:
“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 win now and in the future.”
Other rationalizations for the deal emerged soon after. McMahon reported Dallas had concerns about Dončić’s conditioning, which has been his main issue as an NBA player, and his approaching negotiations for another supermax deal. Dončić has two years left on his current deal after this season.
Davis, who turns 32 next month, now figures to take over down low with Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson and P.J. Washington around him. Davis also gets his wish to play alongside an actual center in Daniel Gafford.
The deal completely alters the Lakers’ long-term outlook, swapping out their most important defensive player for one of the most talented players in the league, but also one who usually needs the ball in his hands to be impactful. It might not make them better for this year, but it gives them something to look forward to once James retires, which they simply didn’t have.
