NEW YORK — The Lakers pulled off a stunning trade Saturday night, sending center Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team deal for star guard Luka Doncic to set up the organization for its post-LeBron James era with one of the NBA’s best young players.
The deal happened after the Lakers beat the New York Knicks 128-112 in Madison Square Garden, according to people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly. The Lakers sent Davis, young guard Max Christie and their 2029 first-round draft pick to Dallas for Doncic and forwards Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris. The Lakers also sent second-year guard Jalen Hood-Schifino to the Utah Jazz, who got second-round picks from the Lakers (their 2025 pick from the Clippers) and Mavericks to facilitate the trade.
According to one Laker not authorized to speak publicly, the trade was a complete shock to the players and came after one of their best wins of the season.
According to people with knowledge of the trade talks not authorized to discuss the deal, it occurred without the knowledge any of players, including James, and was done almost completely between general managers Rob Pelinka of the Lakers and Nico Harrison, who joined the Mavericks after being a longtime Nike executive. The two have an extensive history dating to Kobe Bryant’s time with the sneaker brand.
People briefed on the trade said it was made with complete alignment between ownership, the front office and the coaches. The Lakers were approached by Dallas and couldn’t turn down the chance to chart their future after James.
“My first thought is how are LeBron James and Luka Doncic going to play together?” one rival team executive said. “My second thought, if you’re getting Luka Doncic, you do it anyways.”
Luka Doncic drives on LeBron James during a game between the Lakers and Dallas Mavericks in March 2022.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Questions about the future of James, who holds a no-trade clause and can opt out of a $52.6-million player option and become a free agent after this season, are being asked by executives on rival teams.
In Doncic, the Lakers have acquired one of the premier on-ball players in the world. He’s a five-time All-Star, a five-time All-NBA player who led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals a season ago. He’s averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists this season and is recovering from a calf injury that’s kept him out since Christmas. He’s expected back before the All-Star break.
ESPN’s Tim McMahon reported that the Mavericks were uneasy with a long-term commitment to Doncic because of persistent conditioning issues. Doncic is under contract for the next two seasons and eligible for an extension this summer.
Davis, an NBA champion with the Lakers in 2020 and in the middle of another All-Star season, rejoins an assistant from that championship team in Mavericks coach Jason Kidd and, like Pelinka, has extensive ties with Harrison through Nike. Davis joins a Mavericks team that has Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson and an emerging two-way player in Christie, who has played the best basketball of his career.
Two weeks ago, Davis lobbied for the Lakers to add another center so he could spend more time playing power forward. Dallas has two centers in Daniel Gafford and Derrick Lively II, who is out because of an ankle injury.
The Lakers are scheduled to return to Los Angeles from their annual Grammys road trip, in which they went 4-1, on Sunday. The Lakers are set to host Dallas for their next matchup on Feb. 25.
This story originally appeared on LA Times
