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Lakers land Luka Dončić in blockbuster trade that sends Anthony Davis to Mavericks

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The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired star guard Luka Dončić in a stunning trade that sees Anthony Davis heading to the Dallas Mavericks, according to reports confirmed by CBS News Los Angeles.

In a move first reported by Shams Charania from ESPN, the deal also involves the Utah Jazz, who will receive Jalen Hood-Schifino, the Lakers' first-round pick in 2023, a second-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft via the Clippers and a 2025 second-round pick from the Mavericks. The Clippers pick comes from a four-team trade in 2023

Los Angeles, currently 28-19 and fifth in the Western Conference, will also receive Markieff Morris and Maxi Kleber, while Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick will be going to Dallas, 26-23 so far this season and eighth in the division. 

Los Angeles Lakers v Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball against Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of the game at American Airlines Center on February 26, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. Ron Jenkins / Getty Images

The trade is already being referred to as one of the biggest in the history of the National Basketball Association. It comes just days before the Feb. 6 Trade Deadline, which typically sees a flurry of surprising deals, but rarely any — if ever — of this magnitude. 

"The Mavericks approached the Lakers recently and offered Luka Doncic, sources tell ESPN," said another post on X from Charania. "Lakers brass met and believed the 25-year-old Doncic has the ability to be the face of their franchise for the next decade while giving Anthony Davis a win-now move in Dallas."

The main pieces

Both Davis and Dončić have always been considered key cogs to their respective teams' successes, which adds another element of surprise to Saturday's swap.

Davis, lauded for his defensive prowess, joined the Lakers in 2019 as part of another massive trade that saw Los Angeles send three first-round picks and three young players to the New Orleans Pelicans. Since then he's helped the Purple and Gold secure one NBA Championship in 2020 and the NBA Cup in 2023. He was named to four All-Star Games and one All-NBA First Team berth while with the Lakers. 

Currently he's averaging 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, according to Basketball Reference. 

His time with the Lakers has been somewhat marred by injuries, especially in recent seasons. Between the 2020-21 season and the 2022-23 season, Davis played in just 52% of the Lakers' 236 games due to a slew of injuries that include an MCL sprain and various other lower body injuries. 

Davis has been generally healthy thus far into the 2024-25 season, but on Jan. 29 it was reported that he could miss up to a week of time, if not more, after suffering an abdominal strain in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Regardless of injuries, he's far and away one of the league's most dominant performers when on the court, playing above average on both sides of the ball. 

Following the trade, Mavericks' General Manager Nico Harrison told ESPN that defense wins championships, addressing the importance of adding a five-time All-Defensive Team player. 

"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," Harrison said. 

NBA: JAN 17 Mavericks at Lakers
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 17: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) waiting in the backcourt during the NBA game between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers on January 17. 2024, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Dončić, a 25-year-old who hails from Slovenia, has been the face of the Mavericks since he was drafted in 2018 following three professional seasons in the EuroLeague. He's a five-time All-Star, a five-time member of the All-NBA First Team, the 2019 Rookie of the Year and he was 2024's scoring champion. He was instrumental in Dallas' appearance in last season's NBA Finals, a loss to the Boston Celtics in five games. 

This season he's averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game, per Basketball Reference. 

According to Spotrac, Dončić has two years remaining on the $207 million deal he signed with Dallas in 2021. ESPN's Bobby Marks reports that following the trade he is no longer eligible for a super max contract, which would have netted him $345 million over five years. 

In 2018, Dončić told reporters at a Mavericks Media Day that James was his favorite player to watch as he grew up. 

"He's like my idol," Dončić said at the time.

The move comes on the anniversary of the trade that brought Pau Gasol to the Lakers on Feb. 1, 2008, what many fans view as the instrumental piece to the team's back-to-back NBA Championships in 2009 and 2010. 

Gasol addressed the trade on X early Sunday. 

"Welcome to LA, @luka7doncic!" his post said. "Excited to see you in purple & gold. The Lakers family is special—enjoy the journey and make history!"

How did it happen? 

Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka discussed the trade on Sunday, just hours after the news caused varying reactions on social media despite coming at a late hour. 

"We are overwhelmingly thankful for AD's six seasons with the Lakers, where he led our franchise to a championship and cemented himself as a perennial NBA All-Star," Pelinka said, commenting on Max Christie's development as a member of the team and Jalen Hood-Schifino's professionalism. "Sports are about transformative moments. We are inspired by these moments Lakers fans know, expect and love with a franchise that continually ushers in new eras of greatness."

He then addressed the Lakers' new addition, who will inevitably be the face of the franchise for the foreseeable future.

"Luka is a one-of-a-kind, young global superstar who will lead this franchise for years to come," he said. "His killer instincts and commitment to winning championships will be a driving force for the team. We will be relentless in building a roster around the on-court vision Coach Redick has for this basketball team and there is an unwavering commitment to that work to serve our loyal and dedicated fans. We are grateful for today and look forward to what's next."

Both Pelinka and Harrison have commented on the fact that they kept their negotiations extremely private in fear that any information could be linked over the several weeks they discussed. 

The Mavericks and Lakers will face off twice more this season, the first of which happens in Los Angeles on Feb. 25. 

Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Lakers - Game Two
LeBron James and Anthony Davis embrace after a win over the Denver Nuggets in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs. Getty Images

Players react

While most of the sports world awaits an official reaction from LeBron James, he did share one photo of himself and Davis on Sunday morning. 

"Love you my dog!! Go crazy over there!" a story on Instagram said. 

In the meantime, other NBA stars have taken to social media to talk about the stunning trade. 

"April fools right?" posted New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson on X. 

Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo and former Laker Alex Caruso, now with the Chicago Bulls, suggested that Charania's account had gotten hacked. 

"Shams got hacked?" Haliburton's post read.

"Did somebody steal shams phone??" Adebayo posted.

"Nah shams gotta be hacked," Caruso said

CJ McCollum, a guard for the Pelicans, shared a series of posts that mirrored a similar line of thinking that most people had upon learning the news. 

"I can't tell what's real and fake anymore on these apps. Luka really going to the lakers or nah?" the first post read.

"Wow it's real lol," the second post, just a minute after the first, said. "I'm going to sleep."

screenshot-2025-02-02-at-5-15-06-pm.png
LeBron James' story on Instagram on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, just hours after Anthony Davis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. @kingjames/IG

Tristan Thompson, who has played with LeBron on both the Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers, said there has to be more behind the deal.

"Luka getting traded from Dallas has to have a deeper story behind it," he said. "This just doesn't happen on a random Saturday night."

Phoenix Suns stars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant spoke with ESPN following their game against the Portland Trail Blazers Saturday. 

"It's crazy, man. I really don't know what to say about it," Booker said. "Luka being a guy that everybody has claimed is untouchable and untradeable. The NBA shows you again. Can't predict. It's a business. They're always having a conversation about you. So don't think you're safer than you are."

Durant shared the same sentiment.

"Insane. It's crazy. Crazy. Damn, would of never thought Luka Doncic would get traded. At his age, midseason, the NBA is a wild place, man. If he can get traded, then anybody is up for grabs."

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