Bombshell Luka Doncic trade shakes up NBA landscape

One of the biggest names in the NBA is set to join forces with LeBron James in a trade that completely alters the league’s landscape.

The Los Angeles Lakers have just altered the NBA landscape.

Less than an hour after defeating the New York Knicks, the Lakers pulled the trigger on a bombshell trade that brings Luka Doncic to Los Angeles.

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The Dallas Mavericks superstar and MVP favourite entering the 2024/25 season will now join forces with LeBron James in one of the biggest trades in NBA history.

ESPN’s Shams Charania tweeted the trade which will see Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris join the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.

Luka is now a Laker. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The bombshell trade came out of nowhere and left jaws on the floor across the league with fans and even players in disbelief.

But Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison believes the move can be a huge positive for his side.

“I believe that defense wins championships,” Harrison told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin following the trade.

“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.”

The move has major financial implications for Doncic who is now ineligible for a super max contract this offseason.

Doncic was in line to be paid $US345 million over five years.

“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,” ESPN’s Tim MacMahon wrote on X.

The trade is real. Tim Heitman/Getty Images/AFP

AD is off to Dallas. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP

Social media quickly spiralled into meltdown as the trade was announced with many not believing what they’d just read.

NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor wrote on X: “Luka must’ve demanded a trade to the Lakers, right? This is beyond shocking. I really thought I was dreaming or even died.”

LA Times’ Dan Woike added: “A source has told me this is real. Brain is exploding.”

Sixers journalist Kyle Nuebeck wrote: “This is the biggest trade in NBA history?”

NBA player Tyrese Haliburton wrote not believing the news: “Shams got hacked?” Fellow NBA star Alex Caruso added: “Nah Shams gotta be hacked.”

Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix wrote: “Unbelievable. Truly.”

Basketball analyst Josh Lloyd wrote: “The most insane trade I have ever seen.”

ESPN’s Bobby Marks wrote: “I have never seen so many team executives not involved in this trade stunned.”

AD’s defensive prowess will be a huge plus for the Mavericks. Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images/AFP

News behind the trade began to filter out with Charania reporting it was the Mavericks who went to work behind the curtain in seeking out a trade partner.

“This deal materialized in the shadows. This came out of nowhere,” Charania said on Sportscenter.

“And I’m told, Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, LeBron James, the players, coaches. A lot of people on both sides of the Mavericks and Lakers had no idea. I can assuredly tell you it’s a fact - LeBron James had no idea this was coming. Anthony Davis had no idea this was coming. Luka Doncic is still stunned about this trade.

“I’m told that the Mavericks actually approached the Lakers and offered Luka Doncic a few days ago in a trade. The Mavericks went out. They knew exactly who they wanted. They wanted Anthony Davis. That’s the player that if they were ever going to trade Luka Doncic, this was even a thought that was going to cross their mind, it was for AD.

Luka did not request a trade. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFP

“And so the Mavericks called the Lakers, offered Luka Doncic, and that’s when the Lakers had to huddle internally. They did. They’ve never offered Anthony Davis ever in a trade, but if you’re gonna get offered Luka Doncic, that’s when Jeanie Buss, Rob Pelinka and that organization, they had to meet.

“He’s a 25-year-old - player for the next decade. You can look at him as the face of your franchise.

“And on the other side with the Mavericks, you have someone who’s 31, he’s in the prime of his career. He wants to win a championship now, Anthony Davis does. And you pair him with Kyrie Irving, who he’s friends with, and close with Jason Kidd coached him on the 2020 championship Lakers, Jared Dudley, there’s other members of that coaching staff that he’s very close with, and (general manager) Nico Harrison he has a relationship with through Nike.

“So you take the curtains back, and it makes a lot of sense in many ways, but this coming right now, it’s the most stunning trade that I’ve definitely been a part of.”

Luka will have his first chance to go up against his former club when the Mavericks take on the Lakers in Los Angeles on February 26th.

The Lakers will then venutre into Dallas on April 10th for the second showdown.

Originally published as Bombshell Luka Doncic trade shakes up NBA landscape