The beginning of February brought in a new month, six more weeks of winter and a huge NBA trade. The Lakers conducted a three-team trade deal Feb. 1, trading a first-round pick in 2029 as well as Anthony Davis and Max Christie for Luka Dončić. The trade was a shock for NBA fans everywhere, as it happened in the middle of the night and was one of the strangest deals to date. The Dallas Mavericks made a massive mistake with this trade.
Dončić is a phenomenal player. The star point guard was third in NBA MVP voting and helped take the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season. The Mavericks traded their best player and received very little in return for the 25-year-old who is projected to be one of the best or second-best players in the league for the next few years.
The shock of the trade came from the fact that there were no rumors about the players being traded. Key players in the NBA including LeBron James, Davis and Dončić and neither the Lakers or Mavericks coaches knew this was occurring. Reports detail this was a highly confidential trade. Shams Charania, an ESPN reporter, was the first to post about the trade.
His first post about the trade came at 12:12 a.m. and was followed up with a tweet that said, “Yes, this is real.” The trade was so shocking that many NBA players and fans alike thought Charania was hacked when he made the report. Even Charania himself said he thought it was fake when he received the news.
It was reported Dončić was traded due to his conditioning and defensive performance. While Dončić is an offensive powerhouse, this was insufficient for Dallas to keep their superstar.
However, this wasn’t a deterring factor for the Los Angeles Lakers who have now added another star to their roster. Since the trade, Dončić has yet to play with the Lakers, although he is predicted to debut in Los Angeles on Feb. 10 against the Utah Jazz. Coach JJ Reddick shared it would be most likely Monday, citing that Dončić and the Lakers medical team needed to feel confident before he hit the court. Dončić injured his left calf on Christmas Day and hasn’t played since his injury, so the wait doesn’t come as a shock to fans.
For the Lakers, this trade is an aggressive push towards another championship. With Davis now in Dallas, the Lakers are putting a lot of hope in Dončić alongside LeBron to propel them to a championship season.
For Mavericks fans, this trade was heartbreaking. One fan told CBS Sports this is a trade that could ruin a franchise. Many fans are upset about the trade of their superstar player, directing their anger towards Mavs general manager Nico Harrison. Since the trade, many have taken to social media to ridicule Harrison, and he has even received death threats. Although the Mavericks made the wrong decision with this trade, it is at the end of the day the business of the game and no one deserves death threats ever, especially due to a trade.
Although Mavericks fans were upset about Davis’ arrival to Dallas, his first game with the team ended with 26 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists. Before the game, a protest occurred outside the stadium with many wearing Dončić’s number and chanting at Harrison.
Ultimately time will tell how this shocking trade plays out. But despite Davis’ performance during his first game, his injury history and age make him a significant risk for the Mavs. If the Lakers can make it to another championship this bold trade move will go in favor of Los Angeles. There is an opportunity for Davis to revitalize his career and help Dallas get to the playoffs, although it is unlikely.
Otherwise, this could go down as one of the worst trades in franchise history. Especially if the Mavericks don’t win the finals, or get another generational player with the pick they got in the trade. Achieving a finals win would have been possible with Dončić still on the team. After this trade, Dallas has a lot to prove moving forward. And if they don't, Dallas has made a colossal mistake by trading Dončić to the Lakers.
Clara Leder is a junior studying education and journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Let Clara know by emailing her at cl125221@ohio.edu.
