Dallas Mavericks boss defends Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis deal as trade stuns NBA

LOS ANGELES – Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison defended the jaw-dropping trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis on Feb 2 as a shell-shocked National Basketball Association (NBA) struggled to comprehend the deal.

In a seismic development that sent shock waves rippling throughout the basketball world, news broke late on Feb 1 that the Mavs are trading away Doncic – a 25-year-old five-time All-NBA selection – in exchange for Lakers big man Davis as part of a three-team deal.

The extraordinary trade gives Dallas badly needed defensive heft with the acquisition of Davis, while the Lakers have at a stroke solved the riddle of how to prepare for life after LeBron James, the 40-year-old superstar who is the current face of the franchise and a long-time icon of the league.

Neither Davis, Doncic nor James were given advance warning that the deal was in the works, United States media reported.

ESPN reported that James first learnt of the deal late on Feb 1 while out for dinner in New York with his family following the Lakers’ victory over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

In his first reaction to the move, Doncic thanked Dallas fans and looked forward to the next phase of his career.

“I thought I’d spend my career here and I wanted so badly to bring you a championship,” Doncic wrote in a letter to Mavs fans on Feb 2.

James meanwhile saluted Davis’ contribution to the Lakers in a caption over a photo of him embracing Davis on court. “Love you, my dog. Go crazy over there,” James wrote, with a weeping emoji completing the post.

Dallas executive Harrison defended the decision to offload Doncic amid an outcry from the franchise’s fans on social media. He said Doncic’s shortcoming as a defender – and Davis’ excellence at that end of the floor – were driving factors for the deal.

“We think defence wins championships and we’re bringing in one of the best two-way players in the league,” Harrison said. “We’re excited to feel like we’re built to win now as well as in the future.”

Asked if he could understand the frustration of fans at seeing a generational talent being traded away, Harrison replied: “I’m sorry they’re frustrated, but it’s something that we believe in as an organisation that’s going to make us better.

“We believe that it sets us up to win, not only now, but also in the future. And when we win, I believe the frustration will go away.”

Doncic’s exit will put the ball in the hands of Kyrie Irving, who is considered among the greatest ball handlers in NBA history. He will now likely be paired with Klay Thompson, who has vast championship experience with the Golden State Warriors.

Dallas have already beaten runaway Western Conference leaders the Oklahoma City Thunder three times this season and they hope Davis will make their team even more balanced come play-off time.

Harrison also suggested the Mavericks were obliged to act pre-emptively ahead of contract-extension negotiations with Doncic this summer, heading off the possibility of having to scramble to rebuild the team in the event the Slovenian sought a move. The guard would have been eligible to receive a super-max contract extension worth over US$300 million (S$407 million) after this season.

“He was going to be able to make his own decision at some point of whether he wants to be here or not,” Harrison said. “I think we had to take all that into consideration and feel like we got out in front of what could have been a tumultuous summer.”

Doncic has always had trouble staying healthy, and Dallas were reportedly 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 hawk him around.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, meanwhile, admitted he had been kept in the dark about the trade until late on Feb 1.

However, Kidd was adamant he was “aligned” with the front office over the trade.

“When you look at the vision of the team and what Nico wants to build, I truly support that, and truly believe that the players that we are getting are ones that can help us achieve what we want – and that’s to win a championship,” he said.

But questions still remain over Dallas’ decision to part with a dynamic 25-year-old scorer who led the league in scoring last season while leading them to the Finals.

Tim Cowlishaw, sports columnist for The Dallas Morning News, wrote on Feb 3 that the trade does not add up for him.

He wrote: “There has to be some element of this trade not yet reported, some bizarre set of facts that led Harrison and the Mavericks down this incredibly silly path...

“A player six years older than Luka is now coming to Dallas, presumably to tag team with two other 30-somethings, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson, to lead this team to, what, a play-in game?

“In a Western Conference where Oklahoma City, Houston and Memphis will just run you off the floor with their youth and athleticism, the Mavericks are seeking to win based on memories of a decade ago.”

Meanwhile, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said the franchise’s capture of Doncic could help the club usher in a “new era of greatness”, adding: “Luka is a one-of-a-kind, young global superstar who will lead this franchise for years to come.”

“His killer instincts and commitment to winning championships will be a driving force for the team.”

James, meanwhile, will embrace the Lakers’ franchise-altering roster overhaul and is committed to remaining with the team beyond the Feb 6 trade deadline, according to multiple reports, including one from NBA insider Chris Haynes.

The wider NBA community, meanwhile, was still struggling to comprehend the magnitude of a deal that no one saw coming.

“Insane. It’s crazy. Crazy,” Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant said late on Feb 1 on his reaction to news of the deal.

“Would have never have thought Luka Doncic would get traded. At his age, mid-season. The NBA is a wild place, man. If he can get traded, then anybody is up for grabs.

“This has got to be the biggest trade I’ve seen since I’ve been in the league or since I’ve been watching the sport.” AFP, REUTERS