Lakers trade Anthony Davis to Dallas for Luka Dončić
A blockbuster trade just dropped.
In a move that absolutely no one saw coming, the Los Angeles Lakers traded Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris, per Shams Charania of ESPN.
BREAKING: The Dallas Mavericks are trading Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Three-team deal that includes Utah.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2025
The Utah Jazz were also involved in the trade. They are set to receive Jalen Hood-Schifino, the Los Angeles Clippers’ 2025 second-round pick, and the Mavericks’ 2025 second-round pick.
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
The 25-year-old Slovenian superstar is set to become the Lakers’ face of the future and teams up with LeBron James in LA. Meanwhile, Davis joins Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson in Dallas and practically fulfills his wish of playing at the 4, next to Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II.
Additionally, it seems Dončić had no input in this decision, and that Mavs’ GM Nico Harrison offered Dončić to the Lakers, who had the intention of making him their future star while giving Davis an opportunity to win now with the Mavericks.
The Mavericks approached the Lakers recently and offered Luka Doncic, sources tell ESPN. 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.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2025
Per Tim MacMahon of ESPN, the Mavs had major concerns with Dončić’s constant conditioning issues and the prospect of having to give him a supermax extension this upcoming summer, which compelled them to pull the trigger on the trade.
The Mavs had major concerns about moving forward with Luka Doncic due to his constant conditioning issues and the looming commitment of another supermax contract extension this summer, sources told ESPN.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 2, 2025
This is a surprising and unexpected turn of events in the NBA as the trade deadline approaches. Furthermore, this all happened between two of the Golden State Warriors’ Western Conference rivals. The Warriors themselves have been linked lately to Zach LaVine, Nikola Vučević, and Jimmy Butler. This blockbuster trade might just set off a chain of trades and compel teams like the Warriors to pull the trigger themselves.