.jpg)
1 hour ago
3
It’s no secret that the 2024-25 NBA season was highlighted by the Los Angeles Lakers’ mind-blowing midseason trade for former Dallas Mavericks star guard Luka Doncic.
Last February, the Lakers traded Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick to the Mavericks for Doncic, Markieff Morris, and Maxi Kleber.
While ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel made it known in November that Davis’ deteriorating relationship with the Lakers and injury concerns, combined with Doncic’s high upside, contributed to Los Angeles’ trade decision, Jeanie Buss (governor) recently revealed new information about the deal that will shock fans.
"Those (trade) conversations started at the beginning of January," Buss said on the Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova podcast on Wednesday. "I'll never forget that's when all of Los Angeles was on fire. In order to trade somebody like Anthony Davis, it would have to be with (my) approval and… certainly getting a player of Luka's caliber and him being at the beginning end of his career was just an extraordinary opportunity."
"But it required a lot of strategy and a lot of small steps in order to pull it off. And Rob Pelinka... was able to do that all with it out leaking to the media, because I think Mark Cuban (Mavericks' minority owner) might have jumped in front of a train to keep it from happening.”
“Nobody knew, including Luka. And Anthony Davis. And we had a game in New York that night. And so the coach knew that this was gonna happen, but he still had to play the game. And we won the game that night... Then all the world turned upside down."
Essentially, confirmed that Doncic’s quick rise to superstardom played a significant role in the Lakers’ historic move, while adding that Los Angeles had to take care of business behind the scenes to ensure the deal materialized.
Buss’ claim that Cuban wouldn’t have been content with the lopsided deal is near-impossible to refute, considering that anyone in their right mind could have comprehended that trading Doncic (fresh off an NBA Finals appearance) in his prime for an injury-prone center in Davis was a foolish move that would eventually backfire.
It’s only been a year since the blockbuster transaction, and the Mavericks have already fired GM Nico Harrison and traded Davis to the Washington Wizards. Meanwhile, Doncic is playing at an MVP-level with the Lakers and is expected to be the face of their franchise for years to come.
Simply put, Buss and the Lakers did a phenomenal job of doing the work necessary to land Doncic last season, and they’re now reaping the benefits.
More NBA news:
English (US)