While some people were sleeping, the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks were hard at work. Using the Utah Jazz as an intermediary, they were able to pull off one of the biggest trades in NBA history. Luka Doncic, a perennial NBA MVP candidate, now plays for the Purple and Gold. Anthony Davis, a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, will saddle up in Texas.
Nobody saw it coming. Not Doncic. Not Davis. Even LeBron James, often considered to be a de facto general manager, wasn’t made aware of this possibility beforehand. Consequently, there hasn’t been much time to process the move.
Lakers-Mavs, Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis Trade A Smart Move
Many believe that the Mavs have erred.
There was no bidding war for Doncic, which might have allowed them to extract more value. Furthermore, Doncic is among the most decorated and celebrated players in the NBA despite being just 25 years old. Since winning Rookie of the Year in 2019, he’s become a five-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection. He consistently led his team to the playoffs, even making it to the 2025 NBA Finals.
His career points (12,089) and assists (3,489) rank sixth and fifth all-time in Mavs history, respectively.
It’s not like Davis’s accomplishments don’t measure up though.
He’s a 10-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA selection, and five-time All-Defensive selection who made the cut for the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. He was instrumental in the Lakers winning a championship in 2020, his first season with the franchise. Prior to landing with Los Angeles, he was the face of the New Orleans Pelicans’ franchise, becoming one of their best players ever.
Much of the criticism that Dallas faces is due to the fact that Doncic is more popular than Davis. Of course, Doncic’s a prodigious talent whose guard skills have him looking like a future Hall of Famer. Yet, Davis –the rare center that’s capable of dominating at both ends –will definitely be enshrined in the Hall of Fame when he retires.
Evaluating The Dallas Mavericks’ Decision
In terms of just basketball, there’s actually a lot to like about the trade.
From the Mavs’ side, the conversation should start with a simple truth. Pairing a star point guard with a star big man makes more sense than pairing two star point guards together. That’s not to say it’ll never work, just that it’s a cleaner fit. There’s less of a chance for players to step on each other’s toes if they’re not at the same position.
So, with Kyrie Irving establishing himself as a franchise cornerstone, Dallas went back to Basketball 101.
Basketball 101
At this point, it’s unclear whether Davis will start at center or power forward. He’s played center for most of his Lakers tenure. Yet, he recently went on record saying that he feels more comfortable at power forward. In addition, the Mavs have thrived with Daniel Gafford manning the middle.
In either scenario, he’ll be weaponized offensively. After all, he’s averaged at least 20 points per game every season since 2013-14. He can get it done in the pick-and-roll or the pick-and-pop. He can score out of the post. Davis can even pull-up for a jumper. The thing is, he doesn’t need the dribbles that Doncic did in order to produce. That allows the ball to stay in Irving’s hands longer, shifting him from a hybrid guard role to that of a traditional point guard.
With that being said, Irving’s growth hasn’t just been off the floor. Since arriving in Dallas, he’s had more of a team-oriented approach. He’ll always dazzle with dizzying dribbling displays, aerial acrobatics, and circus shots. However, he’s bought into being more of a playmaker at both ends.
Defense Wins Championships
What Davis is undeniably great at is playing defense.
With that in mind, Irving and Doncic’s combined defense was a liability in the backcourt. That often reared its ugly head in the duo’s time together and was particularly apparent in the 2024 NBA Playoffs. For all the conversation about Tim Hardaway Jr.‘s touch beyond the arc, their perimeter defense was just as much of a concern.
“I believe that defense wins championships,” Mavs GM Nico Harrison told ESPN regarding his motivation to trade Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis. “I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to… https://t.co/iPfQvA4str
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 2, 2025
The Mavs believed they upgraded by swapping Hardaway for Klay Thompson. Solving that problem didn’t help their other one though. This season, Irving, Doncic, and Thompson have all been better than expected at the defensive end. Nonetheless, they can be exposed when matched up against shifty or athletic players.
With Davis and Gafford now there to clean up, Irving and Thompson can now be even more assertive at the point of attack, which should enhance their perimeter defense. Given that there are multiple contenders who start two big men, it’s also worth noting that Davis’ length allows them to match up with those teams better. When factoring in PJ Washington and Naji Marshall, the Mavs actually have one of the best defensive frontcourts in the league.
To think, it’ll be even better when Dereck Lively II gets back.
A Long Look At The Los Angeles Lakers
It doesn’t seem like there’s as much vitriol for the Lakers’ decision, just confusion.
Some wonder how James and Doncic will work together, despite both having played with and thrived alongside a star point guard. Others are trying to figure out whether Davis being traded will lead to James joining the Golden State Warriors despite the consensus being that Los Angeles landed the better player.
All that can be certain is that James and Doncic have plenty of mutual respect. As the saying goes, ‘game recognizes game.’ At this point in their careers, they’re little more than the Spiderman meme coming to life.
The Man In The Mirror
Doncic and James are two of the smartest players in the league. This isn’t just due to their experience but because of an innate feel for the game. They can process an opponent’s defensive coverage in the snap of a finger and are trusted enough to audible any play. On top of that, they’re dynamic passers who can deliver the ball in a wide variety of angles.
To that point, it’s one thing to be able to see and understand what’s happening on the court. It’s another thing to be able to take advantage of or manipulate what’s happening. Because of their combination of basketball IQ and passing ability, Doncic and James can do both.
Then there’s the scoring. Though 15 years older, James is more athletic than Doncic. Nonetheless, they have a couple of similarities in this area as well. Doncic is particularly fond of stepback three-pointers but is at his best bullying opponents inside the arc. James loves pulling up from downtown himself but has always been more effective inside the arc.
To some, that’s too much overlap. Yet, it’s what will make the pairing beautiful. They can find each other anytime and anywhere, making the game easier for one another.
Timing Is Everything
There are other aspects of the trade that should appeal to the Lakers.
Doncic is six years younger than Davis. When looking at Life After LeBron, which will come sooner rather than later, he can be their face of the franchise for much longer. Furthermore, he’ll just be entering his prime when James retires, whereas Davis will have likely exited his.
Getting Doncic now is also better than waiting until James leaves. With the former No. 3 pick’s conditioning concerns, his prime or career could end prematurely, to be honest. So being around James, who works around the clock to make sure his body is in peak condition, will hopefully rub off on him. If so, Doncic’s best has yet to come.
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