Los Angeles Lakers land Luka Doncic, trade Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks

LOS ANGELES – The Lakers and Mavericks have sent the National Basketball Association (NBA) world into a frenzy, with ESPN reporting on Feb 2 that the teams had completed a trade that will send Luka Doncic to Los Angeles and Anthony Davis to Dallas.

While the two stars are at the centre of the deal, the Lakers will also get Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, while the Mavericks will receive Max Christie and a 2029 first-round draft pick, according to the report.

ESPN reported that the Jazz are also involved in the trade and will get Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2025 second-round draft pick via the Los Angeles Clippers from the Lakers. Dallas are also sending a 2025 second-round selection to Utah.

“I believe that defence wins championships,” Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison told ESPN. “I believe that getting an All-Defensive centre and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future.”

Dallas came to the Lakers offering Doncic, and Los Angeles reportedly believed that the five-time All-Star has what it takes to some day be the face of the franchise, reported ESPN.

For now, he will be playing alongside LeBron James, who is in his 22nd NBA season.

Reports of the trade surfaced shortly after the Lakers – with Davis sidelined with an abdominal muscle strain – beat the Knicks 128-112 in New York.

“According to people inside the Lakers’ locker room not authorised to speak publicly, the trade was a complete shock,” the Los Angeles Times reported.

Shams Charania, the ESPN reporter who broke the news, said in discussing the trade on the network: “This deal materialised in the shadows.

“LeBron James had no idea this was coming. Anthony Davis had no idea this was coming. I’m told Luka Doncic is still stunned about this trade.”

Doncic and Davis are currently sidelined due to injuries, as are Kleber and Hood-Schifino. Doncic has not played since Christmas Day due to a strained left calf, while Davis went down on Jan 28.

There is no set date for Doncic’s return, but when the 25-year-old first got injured, the Mavericks said he would be re-evaluated in about one month. Davis will be re-assessed next week.

Doncic has always had trouble staying healthy, and ESPN’s report noted that Dallas were frustrated with his poor conditioning and diet. Those two factors played a large role in causing Doncic to miss time due to injury, in the organisation’s eyes, causing the Mavericks to shop him around.

The Slovenian guard would have been eligible to receive a super-max contract extension worth over US$300 million (S$407 million) after this season.

Kleber last played on Jan 25 and is dealing with a fractured right foot.

Hood-Schifino, out with a strained left hamstring, was used sparingly by the Lakers and has not played since Dec 1.

Doncic has averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 22 games (all starts) this season.

He has played only for Dallas in his seven-year NBA career after being selected third overall by the Hawks in the 2018 draft. Atlanta sent his draft rights to the Mavericks in exchange for those to Trae Young.

The 31-year-old Davis has put up averages of 25.7 points, 11.9 boards, 3.4 assists and 2.1 blocks across 42 games (all starts) during the 2024-25 campaign.

He is a 10-time All-Star. He is also a five-time All-NBA selection and five-time All-Defensive Team selection.

Kleber, who turned 33 on Jan 29, is averaging 3.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists this season. He has appeared in 34 games, starting four.

Morris, 35, has come off the bench in seven games and is posting an average of 1.7 points and 1.1 rebounds per contest.

In just two games, the 21-year-old Hood-Schifino has averaged 2.0 points.

At the conclusion of play on Feb 1, the Lakers sat fifth in the Western Conference at 28-19. The Mavericks were three spots below them in eighth (26-23).

James noted after the victory over the Knicks (32-17) that Davis’ absence made for a big defensive void.

“Without AD, it’s got to be a collective group, not one of us can do it by ourselves,” James said as he registered a triple-double of 33 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists.

“We damn sure can’t take up all what AD does – he covers for all of us.” REUTERS, AFP