The Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks on Saturday, then made one of the most shocking deals in NBA history.
The team is sending Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris in a three team deal that also includes the Utah Jazz, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
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
News of the trade was so jarring that many speculated Charania’s account could have been hacked, but reporters from both the Los Angeles Times and the Dallas Morning News quickly confirmed it. There was no prior indication at all that either team was looking to move its All-Star forward.
The deal swaps out Davis for Luka Dončić as LeBron James’ co-star, though it may be more accurate to say Dončić will be the star long-term. Dončić is currently out with a calf injury, but has made five straight All-NBA first teams at 25 years old. The Lakers were facing a potential slide over the next few years as both James and Davis aged, but this changes everything.
As for the Mavericks, they are moving on from a player their fans never expected to leave, and they don’t seem to be receiving much beyond Davis, a player who can produce on both ends of the floor but has rarely succeeded as a team’s offensive focal point.
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