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Fans all ask same question after Luka Doncic bombshell trade

NBA players and fans across the globe were left in disbelief over this out of nowhere trade, with everyone left asking the same question.

Andrew Jackson
3 min read
February 2, 2025 - 7:05PM
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Well, as if De’Aaron Fox suddenly being available wasn’t enough to bring the NBA trade deadline to life, how about a blockbuster deal no one saw coming involving two of the league’s biggest superstars?

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That is exactly what we got on Sunday afternoon as, out of nowhere, the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks agreed to a deal, also involving the Utah Jazz, in which they swapped Anthony Davis and Luka Doncic.

Of course, there was more to the deal with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris also being sent to L.A. while Max Christie and a Lakers 2029 first-round pick was shipped to Dallas.

Utah, meanwhile, received Jalen Hood-Schifino, a Clippers 2025 second-round pick and Mavericks 2025 second-round pick in the trade.

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

Predictably, given how unexpected the move was, the entire sporting world — not even just the NBA world — was quick to react on social media with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who plays in this month’s Super Bowl, even weighing in.

Suns superstar Kevin Durant described it as the “biggest trade I’ve seen since I’ve been in the league”.

“Or since I’ve been watching the sport. This was insane,” he added, per The Athletic’s Jason Quick.

“Insane. It’s crazy. crazy,” he continued. “Damn, would have never thought Luka Dončić get traded at this age, midseason.”

“The NBA is a wild place. If he can get traded, anybody is up for grabs.”

Once the initial shock wore off, more people started to ask questions — namely one in particular — why would the Mavericks make this move in the first place?

As elite a player and, specifically, defender as Davis may be, Doncic was the face of the franchise and only just entering his prime while the Mavericks had only got the NBA Finals last year, in the end falling short at the hands of the Boston Celtics.

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon later reported that Dallas 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”.

Doncic was due to earn $US345 million over five years.

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.

The new teammates. John McCoy/Getty Images/AFP
The new teammates. John McCoy/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.

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Originally published as Fans all ask same question after Luka Doncic bombshell trade

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/sport/basketball/nba/fans-all-ask-same-question-after-luka-doncic-bombshell-trade/news-story/9e83699b5576a263319c6ddc61cd87d9