WOW. I don’t even know how to start. This has to be one of the most insane trades in recent NBA history. LeBron James and Luka Doncic on one team. This feels like something that would only happen in NBA2k.
I was considering writing an article about the NBA’s rating being down, but I guess I’ll have to scrap that idea because this trade definitely fixes some of their problems. If you haven’t seen the full trade by now here it is: Los Angeles receives Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris. Dallas received Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first round pick in the 2029 NBA draft. The Utah Jazz (as the third team) received Jalen Hood Schifino, the Clippers 2025 2nd round pick, and the Mavs 2025 2nd round pick.
This trade is so lopsided that Shams Charnia had to appear on ESPN to confirm to everyone that he wasn’t hacked. All I can say is this: What are the Dallas Mavericks doing???. Luka is one of the best players in the NBA, and was traded for an aging Anthony Davis, a good guard, and a 2029 first. To put it into perspective, the 2029 first round pick is still in high school.
Luka’s only 25 years old. He was supposed to be a lifelong Maverick, and they traded him for less than what the Brooklyn Nets got for Mikal Bridges. No disrespect to Mikal, he was one of my favorite players from the late 2010’s Villanova teams, but he is nowhere near Luka Doncic’s level.
What makes this trade even worse is the explanation on why he was traded. The Dallas Mavericks, per ESPN insider Tim MacMahon, were frustrated with Luka’s weight gain. Dallas. You are an NBA team. HIRE A NUTRITIONIST. I just don’t understand anything about this trade, but I do know that the Lakers just increased their chances of winning the NBA finals. Lebron and Luka is a lethal duo that makes the Lakers instant contenders. What an insane moment for the NBA.
This section is being written 24 hours later, and this looks even worse for Dallas. Mavericks general manager, Nico Harrison, held a press conference with head coach and Hall of Famer Jason Kidd that made everything worse. Kidd looked absolutely stunned during the conference, listening in horror as Harrison tried his best to make this trade out to be anything but an absolute disaster. As you could tell based on how I worded this section, he failed.
Harrison tried to argue that the Mavericks would be a defensively sound team with the addition of Anthony Davis, who has seemingly been forgotten amongst the Luka discussion. The NBA community considered this possibility, until the Dallas Mavericks got 144 POINTS scored on them by the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs put up 91 points in the first half, which is tied for the second most points scored in a half in NBA HISTORY. There’s no way adding Anthony Davis could possibly have such a drastic impact if this is the position the Mavs are at currently!
If you thought that this situation couldn’t get worse, you would be wrong. Throughout the press conference, the viewer was repeatedly reminded that nobody but Harrison and Lakers GM Rob Pelinka knew that this trade was happening. Not Luka Doncic. Not Anthony Davis. Not even Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. I’m not sure if repeating this makes Nico think he looks smart, but it is doing the exact opposite. What is Nico Harrison doing? I genuinely don’t understand what he was thinking when he made this trade.
I couldn’t imagine being a Mavs fan right now. Luka was the face of Mavericks basketball. He was their Dirk Nowitski replacement. And now he’s gone. Nico Harrison should be investigated for collusion. That’s the only way I can comprehend this move. But genuinely, how did no one know about this? Even Danny Ainge, GM of the third team in the trade, the Utah Jazz, didn’t even know that Luka was involved until within the hour of the trade becoming official. This trade is so lopsided that NBA fans are accusing the Mavs of colluding with the Lakers.
This might be the biggest trade in NBA history, and I’m very interested to see how it affects the NBA world as we approach the playoffs.
