The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired star guard Luka Dončić in a stunning trade that sees Anthony Davis heading to the Dallas Mavericks, according to reports confirmed by CBS News Los Angeles.
uncertain
Davis → acquire → News
In a move first reported by Shams Charania from ESPN, the deal also involves the Utah Jazz, who will receive Jalen Hood-Schifino, the Lakers' first-round pick in 2023, a second-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft via the Clippers and a 2025 second-round pick from the Mavericks.
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who → report → Mavericks
The Clippers pick comes from a .
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pick → come → a
Los Angeles, currently 28-19 and fifth in the Western Conference, will also receive Markieff Morris and Maxi Kleber, while Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick will be going to Dallas, 26-23 so far this season and eighth in the division.
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Christie → receive → division
The trade is already being referred to as one of the biggest in the history of the National Basketball Association.
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trade → refer → Association
It comes just days before the Feb. 6 Trade Deadline, which typically sees a flurry of surprising deals, but rarely any — if ever — of this magnitude.
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which → come → magnitude
"The Mavericks approached the Lakers recently and offered Luka Doncic, sources tell ESPN," said another post on X from Charania.
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post → approach → Charania
"Lakers brass met and believed the 25-year-old Doncic has the ability to be the face of their franchise for the next decade while giving Anthony Davis a win-now move in Dallas.
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Doncic → meet → Dallas
"
The main pieces
Both Davis and Dončić have always been considered key cogs to their respective teams' successes, which adds another element of surprise to Saturday's swap.
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which → consider → swap
Davis, lauded for his defensive prowess, joined the Lakers in 2019 as part of
that saw Los Angeles send three first-round picks and three young players to the New Orleans Pelicans.
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Angeles → laud → Pelicans
Since then he's helped the Purple and Gold secure one NBA Championship in 2020 and the NBA Cup in 2023.
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Purple → help → 2023
He was named to four All-Star Games and one All-NBA First Team berth while with the Lakers.
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He → name → Lakers
Currently he's averaging 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, according to Basketball Reference.
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he → average → Reference
His time with the Lakers has been somewhat marred by injuries, especially in recent seasons.
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time → mar → seasons
Between the 2020-21 season and the 2022-23 season, Davis played in just 52% of the Lakers' 236 games due to a slew of injuries that include an MCL sprain and various other lower body injuries.
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that → play → sprain
Davis has been generally healthy thus far into the 2024-25 season, but on Jan. 29 it was reported that he could miss up to a week of time, if not more, after suffering an abdominal strain in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
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he → report → 76ers
Regardless of injuries, he's far and away one of the league's most dominant performers when on the court, playing above average on both sides of the ball.
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he → play → ball
Following the trade, Mavericks' General Manager Nico Harrison told ESPN that defense wins championships, addressing the importance of adding a five-time All-Defensive Team player.
"I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance.
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getting → follow → chance
We're built to win now and in the future," Harrison said.
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Harrison → build → future
Dončić, a 25-year-old who hails from Slovenia, has been the face of the Mavericks since he was drafted in 2018 following three professional seasons in the EuroLeague.
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he → hail → EuroLeague
This season he's averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game, per Basketball Reference.
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he → average → Reference
According to Spotrac, Dončić has two years remaining on the $207 million deal he signed with Dallas in 2021.
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he → accord → 2021
ESPN's Bobby Marks reports that following the trade he is no longer eligible for a super max contract, which would have netted him $345 million over five years.
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which → report → years
In 2018, Dončić told reporters at a Mavericks Media Day that James was his favorite player to watch as he grew up.
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he → tell → Day
"He's like my idol," Dončić said at the time.
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Dončić → say → time
The move comes on the anniversary of the trade that brought Pau Gasol to the Lakers on Feb. 1, 2008, what many fans view as the instrumental piece to the team's back-to-back NBA Championships in 2009 and 2010.
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fans → come → 2009
Gasol addressed the trade on X early Sunday.
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Gasol → address → X
"Welcome to LA, @luka7doncic!" his post said.
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post → welcome → @luka7doncic
The Lakers family is special—enjoy the journey and make history!"
How did it happen?
Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka discussed the trade on Sunday, just hours after the news caused varying reactions on social media despite coming at a late hour.
"We are overwhelmingly thankful for AD's six seasons with the Lakers, where he led our franchise to a championship and cemented himself as a perennial NBA All-Star," Pelinka said, commenting on Max Christie's development as a member of the team and Jalen Hood-Schifino's professionalism.
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Pelinka → enjoy → team
We are inspired by these moments Lakers fans know, expect and love with a franchise that continually ushers in new eras of greatness.
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that → inspire → greatness
He then addressed the Lakers' new addition, who will inevitably be the face of the franchise for the foreseeable future.
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who → address → future
"Luka is a one-of-a-kind, young global superstar who will lead this franchise for years to come," he said.
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he → lead → years
"His killer instincts and commitment to winning championships will be a driving force for the team.
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instincts → win → team
We will be relentless in building a roster around the on-court vision Coach Redick has for this basketball team and there is an unwavering commitment to that work to serve our loyal and dedicated fans.
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Redick → build → fans
We are grateful for today and look forward to what's next.
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what → look → today
"
Both Pelinka and Harrison have commented on the fact that they kept their negotiations extremely private in fear that any information could be linked over the several weeks they discussed.
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they → comment → weeks
The Mavericks and Lakers will face off twice more this season, the first of which happens in Los Angeles on Feb. 25.
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first → face → Feb.
Players react
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Players → react → ?
While most of the sports world awaits an official reaction from LeBron James, he did share one photo of himself and Davis on Sunday morning.
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he → await → morning
"Love you my dog!! Go crazy over there!" a story on Instagram said.
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story → love → Instagram
…and 21 more, not listed.
The Aporia
