Why? The question on everyone’s mind in the NBA, including LeBron James, about the trade of Doncic to the Lakers and Davis to Dallas

Los Angeles could have in the Slovenian player their next big star once LeBron retires.

NBA
Luka Doncic y Anthony Davis ARCHIVO- Luka Doncic de los Mavericks contra Anthony Davis de los Lakers en un partido de la NBA, disputado en Dallas el 12 de diciembre de 2023. (LM Otero/AP)

During Saturday night and early Sunday morning, no one slept in the world of the NBA following news that shocked the league and could have major sports and institutional impacts: The Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks made one of the trades of this century by exchanging Anthony Davis and Slovenian Luka Doncic.

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The transfer was confirmed on Sunday morning, after the teams obtained the required league approval on all terms involved in the agreement.

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Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris will accompany Doncic to Los Angeles, while Max Christie is going to Dallas with Davis.

The Utah Jazz are also involved in the deal, acquiring Jalen Hood-Schifino from the Lakers and two second-round picks in this year's Draft, one from the Clippers and one from the Mavs.

How was this great business born in the NBA?

The news of the trade became known approximately one hour after the Lakers defeated the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York. Davis was not with the Lakers for the match. He had returned to Los Angeles due to an abdominal injury that needed evaluation.

The first to report on the trade was Shams Charania from ESPN.

Doncic has not played with Dallas since Christmas, when he left the court due to a left calf strain. The Slovenian was on his way to signing a $345 million, five-year contract with the Mavericks.

What do the Lakers and the Mavericks gain from this agreement?

Thanks to this agreement, the Lakers get what will probably be their star once LeBron James retires, a 25-year-old generational talent who can learn a lot from the "king" for now. Also, once he recovers from the injury at the end of February, Doncic could be crucial for Los Angeles to make it to the playoffs.

Doncic and LeBron James will be the new dynamic duo in Los Angeles, and the Slovenian will also reunite with his former teammate, Lakers coach J.J. Redick.

Although few still understand why Dallas let go of Doncic, by acquiring Davis they get a strong player in the paint who can complement very well with Kyrie Irving and three-point shooter Klay Thompson. That trio could lead the Mavericks to a new Western Conference title and threaten the favoritism of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The NBA reacts with disbelief

In the NBA, nobody could believe the news.

The Suns' star Kevin Durant added: "Crazy. It's crazy. Madness. Damn, I never would have thought Luka Doncic would be traded. At his age, in the middle of the season, the NBA is a wild place. If he can be traded, then anyone is available.".

There was an immediate surprise on social media when the news was spread.

"The fact that Luka is being transferred from Dallas has to have a deeper story behind it," wrote Cleveland center Tristan Thompson on the social network X. "This simply doesn't happen on any given Saturday night."

Even Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs star who is preparing for the Super Bowl, commented on the issue: "Wait, what?". Mahomes, who was born in Texas just a few kilometers from Dallas, has been seen on the court during Mavs games during the NFL offseason, including NBA playoff games.

According to various news reports, LeBron James was not informed in advance of the trade and reacted with annoyance when Bill Reiter, a specialist from CBS Sports, said that the “king” was upset with Anthony Davis. “Yoy a f.. lie,” was LBJ’s strong response on the social network X.

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