Dumbfoundedness of Luka Trade

Shane Inman writes about the dubious trade of Luka Dončić and what that means for the future of the NBA.

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

The NBA is a league full of surprises, and with the trade deadline just five days away, a monumental trade headline broke the news. On February 1, 2025, the Los Angeles Lakers traded Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Dončić. The Lakers also received Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris as compensation and sent out Max Christie and a 2029 Lakers first-round pick. Supposedly, Luka was traded due to poor conditioning and the Mavericks’ unwillingness to offer him a supermax contract. This trade brewed beneath the shadows of the rest of the league and caught the public off guard.

The Lakers were in a tricky spot before the trade, struggling to find consistency and playoff success. Anthony Davis, during his five-and-a-half-year tenure with the Lakers, missed about 134 games, which undeniably impacted the Lakers’ success. The Lakers won the championship in 2020 when Anthony Davis stayed healthy. Despite Davis playing at an MVP level this season, these were the factors attributed to the trade. The inevitable fate of LeBron James, either retiring or leaving the Lakers, looms over the team. The Lakers’ move to acquire Luka, a generational talent, is an attempt to keep them in contention for years to come.

The Mavericks, coming off an NBA Finals loss, felt the need to trade Luka Dončić to improve their chances for future contention. Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving will now be paired together—two experienced players with NBA Finals victories (both with LeB-

ron James). It is controversial and shocking that the Mavericks decided to trade Luka, as most in the NBA would view him as untouchable. His combination of skill, generational scoring

ability, and one-of-a-kind playmaking is something the Mavericks may not be able to replace in the next 20 years. It will be interesting to see whether Luka re-signs with the Lakers or looks to hit free agency. The Mavericks’ trade of him also makes Luka ineligible for the supermax deal, meaning he loses out on approximately $100 million.