The bold statement GM Nico Harrison made when asked about post trade talks with Luka Doncic

The dust is settling, but the sensation around the league still remains the same. Players from the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers and all over the NBA are still stunned by the trade that sends Luka Doncic to LA in exchange for Anthony Davis.

Dirk’s heir in Dallas gone

Just over a half year ago, Luka led the Dallas Mavericks to somewhere they haven’t been since their Golden Era with Dirk Nowitzki. He and Kyrie Irving took Dallas to the NBA Finals after an improbable run as a five seed in the stacked Western Conference.

He was the heir to Dirk’s throne in Big D, and wasted no time becoming a super star and one of the faces of the next generation of the NBA. He seemed happy, and at home at American Airlines Center after they embraced the skinny teenager with open arms and high expectations.

Doncic has lived up to those expectations, and even exceeded them over the last seven seasons. He’s been an All-NBA First Team selection in five of those seasons, and led Dallas to two Western Conference Finals and returned the Mavs to the Finals last year, but it seems like not everyone was happy in the front offices from the AA Center.

Luka heading to LA with LeBron

Doncic was the golden boy of previous majority owner Mark Cuban, but since Cuban sold 73% of the franchise last week he lost all say in player personnel. Luka, while spectacular scoring the ball, has his short comings on the defensive end and that might have come into play when Dallas made the decision.

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Mavs general manager Nico Harrison came into the fray in June 2021, and it is reported that he is the one that pulled the trigger on the trade. When asked if he has been in touch with Luka since the news broke on Saturday night, Harrison replied “My guess is he probably doesn’t want to talk to me.”

That would suggest that Luka is not too happy with the decision or the way it was handled. If there is a bright side for Doncic, that would be him heading to LA to a Lakers team that are fifth in the West and he’s playing with his childhood hero in LeBron James. Both have openly stated their admiration for one and other, and now they will be on the same team barring no other trade deadline surprises.