Breaking news from the NBA: Why did the Mavericks trade Luka Doncic to the Lakers?
Luka Doncic is heading to the Lakers, after the Dallas Mavericks agreed a surprise, historic trade with Los Angeles.
The Mavericks have traded star guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, after Dallas general manager Nico Harrison reportedly decided he wanted to take the team in a different direction.
Who gets what in the Doncic trade?
In a blockbuster trade revealed by ESPN’s Shams Charania, Doncic is to team up with superstar LeBron James in California, with Lakers center Anthony Davis heading in the other direction.
LA’s Max Christie is also going to the Mavericks as part of the historic agreement, while Doncic’s Dallas team-mates Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris will be joining the Slovenian at the Lakers. The Mavericks are to receive LA’s first-round Draft pick for 2029.
According to Charania, the full details of a three-way trade that also involves the Utah Jazz are:
Yes, this is real. Sources tell ESPN: Full trade:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2025
- Lakers: Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris
- Mavericks: Anthony Davis, Max Christie, 2029 LAL 1st
- Jazz: Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2025 Clippers 2nd, 2025 Mavericks 2nd https://t.co/bltojdTaQj
What are the Mavs' reasons for doing Doncic trade?
According to the NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavericks initiated trade talks with the Lakers after Harrison “made the call to abruptly change the direction of the franchise”. Doncic, who did not ask for a trade, was blindsided by the deal, the basketball journalist Ben Rogers has reported.
Per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the Mavericks had “major concerns” about Doncic’s physical shape, with Dallas sources reportedly pointing to an apparent lack of discipline in his diet and conditioning as a key reason behind the former Real Madrid player’s injury problems.
In the 2024/25 NBA regular season, the 25-year-old has appeared in only 22 games so far. He has been inactive since Dallas’s Christmas Day defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a calf strain.
MacMahon reports that the Mavericks were concerned about the “looming commitment” of Doncic’s upcoming contract extension, with the five-time All-Star in line for a supermax deal worth $345 million over five years.
“Defense wins championships”
Harrison has told ESPN that Dallas’s trade with the Lakers has allowed the Texan franchise to take the important step of bolstering its defense.
“I believe that defense wins championships,” the 52-year-old said. “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.”
“I believe that defense wins championships,” Mavs GM Nico Harrison told ESPN regarding his motivation to trade Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis. “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… https://t.co/iPfQvA4str
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 2, 2025
What were Doncic’s stats at the Mavericks?
Doncic, who has spent his entire career so far with the Mavericks, joined the franchise in a trade deal with Atlanta in 2018, having been picked by the Hawks as the No. 3 overall selection in that year’s Draft. In 422 games for the Mavericks, he averaged 28.6 points and 8.3 assists.
As well as being a five-time pick for the All-Star Game, Doncic was named Rookie of the Year in 2019. In 2023/24, he helped Dallas to the NBA Finals, where the Mavs missed out on a second NBA championship in a 4-1 series defeat to the Boston Celtics.
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