The secret is out on the trade of the Millennium. Luka Doncic’s move from the Dallas Mavericks to the LA Lakers in early February surprised insiders and outsiders alike. The five-time NBA All-Star now teams up with the legendary LeBron James. This is the new 1-2 punch in Los Angeles that was a TKO for the rest of the heists in the league. No one saw it coming apart from those who kept it such a secret.
Such breaking news typically gets trailed by one source or a whispering campaign that gains momentum when something is on the cards. However, it appears the Mavericks and the Lakers kept their trading cards very close to their chest with this crackerjack of a surprise.
Doncic Trade Deal Involves Multiple Players And Drafts
The 25-year-old Dončić is being traded by the reigning Western Conference champion Dallas for Anthony Davis, a ten-time NBA All-Star and former championship winner with L.A. German power forward Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris went to the Lakers alongside Doncic while shooting guard Max Christie went the other way. There were also some draft picks and a trade with the Utah Jazz to complete the mega deal, but there was only one big story.
Lakers and Mavericks Made Doncic Deal Best Kept Secret
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka described the deal as “a seismic event in NBA history.” Still, the Mavericks GM Nico Harrison proposed sending Doncic to one of the most storied franchises in the NBA. What was crucial is that both Pelinka and Harrison have a long-standing relationship centered around the late Kobe Bryant. The former was Bryant’s agent and his Nike representative, so keeping business and trust within the network would never be a problem.
The move seemed to shock Doncic and Davis as much as the watching public and media. Talents like the former are not generally traded in such a manner especially given that he is only in his mid-twenties with a peak that could still be a few years later. One strong motivation put forward for the Mavericks sale was financial. Doncic’s contract ran to 2026, and there may have been a fear that he would enter free agency rather than sign a five-year supermax extension worth $350 million. It has to be said that the player has denied this outright.
Lakers Still Need Defense To Come Good
The trade boosted the NBA odds considerably, but the breaking news elsewhere is not so good. The expected acquisition of young center Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets to add more power to the defensive elbow fell through. This means that the Lakers will have to make do with a center from Jaxon Hayes, Christian Koloko, or Trey Jemison.
As things settle down, the reality will see the Slovenian in a new shirt with the 17-time champions. How will he fit in and play to a different tune and to a different expectation in terms of success? Many of Doncic’s teammates and colleagues have referenced that the superstar wants to be known as one of the all-time greats and this is now the platform for him to push on.
Although Doncic helped the Mavericks to the NBA final, his trump card was offensive rather than defensive. Harrison thinks that defense wins titles and it was the end of the road for his star player. Dallas may now think they have a better chance of landing an NBA title with Davis, who has led the league in blocks on three occasions. What do the Lakers get in return?
Are Doncic and James Too Similar?
While the dream pairing is one to salivate over, there is some talk that James and Doncic are too similar in their styles. Both are ball-dominant players and might clash with rather than complement one another. If they don’t move without the ball, then there are gaps elsewhere. On the other hand, they make elite decisions under pressure.
“The Matador” was averaging almost 29 points before moving. James is 40 years old but still has statistics that make impressive reading with an average over 24 points. If, as Harrison says, defense does win titles, then the Lakers need to ensure they can pile up the points to cover the weakness. They have hit upon form recently before the trade too.
The vital signs are that the Lakers do have some momentum in trying to become serious title contenders but are having to roll the dice too. Doncic and James are going to bring the crowds for sure and will hope that there’s enough elsewhere to cover their backs.