In a trade deal so surprising it left fans wondering if it was a prank, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Dallas Mavericks have agreed to send superstar Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. In return, the Mavs will receive nine-time All-Star Anthony Davis, reserve guard Max Christie, and a first-round draft pick for 2029.
This surprising trade was confirmed by several reports. The three-term deal which also involves Utah Jazz will be seeing Los Angeles acquire players like Maxi Keber and Markieff Morris. Mavericks general manager Nico Harris explained that the decision to bring Davis in is due to his exceptional skill set and the defensive abilities which will help Mavericks get closer to success.
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
Despite Doncic being renowned for his firepower, leading the league with an average of 33.9 points per game last season, the young star dealt with calf-strain since December. At just 25, Doncic has already cemented himself as one of the NBA’s brightest talents, consistently finishing in the top six for MVP voting in recent seasons, while averaging career stats of 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists.
