In a surprising early morning trade, the Dallas Mavericks sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. What are the Mavericks doing, and what is next?
This Doncic-Davis deal is the definition of a blockbuster, as both players are franchise-type players. Mavericks fans are reportedly heartbroken, but could the trade work out well for them?
“This s— broke my heart,” Mavericks fan Stewart Svobada told Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News. “They just sold everything away.”
Svobada wasn’t the only Mavericks fan stunned by the trade, and for good reason. Dallas, coming off its first NBA Finals appearance since claiming the 2011 NBA title, sits eighth in the conference with a 26-23 record heading into this afternoon’s game at Cleveland.
“I’m hoping to wake up from a bad dream,” Dallas native Dmitri Jordanou said when asked by McFarland his thoughts. “You have the most talented Mavericks team in Mavericks history, and you have Luka right here. It’s like, ‘Boom.’ We just went to the finals, we finally get this team around him, it’s all right here, and then you trade him? It’s the biggest joke ever.”
What Does Luka Doncic Trade Mean For Mavericks and What Is Next?
While Dallas is just two-and-one-half games behind the sixth-place Los Angeles Clippers, the Mavericks have trended down since losing Doncic to injury on Christmas Day. Since falling to Minnesota on December 25, the Mavs have lost 12 of their last 20 contests and are only three games clear of 12th-place San Antonio.
Granted, Doncic was not the only player Dallas has lost to injuries. Dereck Lively II is dealing with right ankle stress and likely won’t return to the court in March. Dwight Powell (hip) missed his eighth straight game against the Cavaliers. No Maverick has appeared in every game this season, and only five have missed fewer than 10 contests.
Plus, Doncic was expected to return before the All-Star break, though there was no definitive timetable. The Mavs have seven games until the break. The Mavs were 13-14 without their star guard prior to the Cavaliers game. So, the brass may have thought that the team would be out of contention for a top-six seed by the time Doncic returned, though Davis is expected to sit out a few more days with an abdomen strain.
Why The Mavericks Made Trade
However, according to Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, the real reason Dallas made the trade with Los Angeles was the Mavericks’ defensive inefficiencies. The Mavericks are eighth in offensive rating at 115.8 and 13th in defensive rating at 112.4. Not surprisingly, the Mavs were worse on both ends of the floor, with Doncic falling to 19th in both categories over the last 19 contests.
“I believe that defense wins championships,” Harrison told ESPN. “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 win now and in the future.”
ESPN also reported that the Mavericks weren’t thrilled with Doncic’s lack of conditioning. That shouldn’t be surprising, as Doncic has been criticized for his weight since entering the NBA.
Anthony Davis and Max Christie’s Role With the Mavericks
While Davis and Doncic headline the trade, those two players were not the only parties involved. The Mavericks also sent Markieff Morris and Maxi Kleber to the Lakers, while the Mavs also received Max Christie and LA’s 2029 first-rounder.
So, what role will Christie and Davis be?
Davis will remain the man with the Mavericks being his franchise for the foreseeable future. While it was said that the Lakers became his team last season, I’m not sure that was true, especially since LeBron James still has a hand in every aspect of the franchise.
Kyrie Irving is still in Dallas, but the 32-year-old malcontent guard is not a leader. Irving could request a trade, though he can also opt-out after the season because he owns a player option.
Davis, who waived his $5.2 million trade kicker, is expected to slide into the power forward slot, which he has repeatedly said he prefers. That means he will play alongside Daniel Gafford or Livel when he returns, and P.J. Washington will move to three. Thus, Klay Thompson will move back to his natural shooting guard position, where he is more comfortable.
Perhaps more importantly, Naji Marshall can move back to the bench full-time and not have to play the four at least as much. Washington would move to the four when Davis needed a break, and Gafford or Dwight Powell could also fill in a few minutes at the four.
Max Christie
The bigger question is how Christie will fit in. Christie has been starting with the Lakers and thriving, averaging 10.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists with shooting splits of 44.7/38.5/85.4% in 30 opportunities. However, Irving and Thompson are entrenched in the starting lineup. It is possible that Jason Kidd decides to start Davis at the five on occasionally, which would allow Christie the opportunity to move in with the first unit—that is unlikely, however, at this time.
So, would Kidd trust giving Christie major minutes off the bench? The Mavericks backcourt is very crowded.
Christie, known for his defense, has struggled and has been a nonfactor offensively as a reserve. Plus, Dante Exum is now healthy, and the Mavs still have Quentin Grimes, who is a better shooter and defender than Christie, Marshall, Jaden Hardy, and Spencer Dinwiddie.
Irving, Washington, Davis, Christie and Gafford joined Powell and Lively as out against the Cavaliers. As expected, the Cavs handled the Mavericks easily (140-101). A few positive things from today’s beatdown for the Mavs is that two-way player Kylor Kelley recorded his first career NBA double-double. Olivier Maxence Prosper and Exum saw season-high minutes.
What Is Next For The Mavericks?
Dallas has reportedly been gauging trade interest in Gafford. Perhaps the Mavs will look to move Irving, though they are more likely to make a smaller deal or stand pat and wait until the offseason.
Dallas now has an open roster spot. The Mavericks are over the tax, though they are $6.2 million from being hard capped at the first apron. Davis’ three-year veteran extension worth $175.3 million kicks in next year. Irving’s player option ($43.3 million) and Powell’s ($4 million PO) give the Mavericks 11 players under contract with salaries totaling over $178 million.
Grimes, Exum, and Dinwiddie are all on expiring contracts. So, watch those three players and perhaps Gafford over the next few days.
Dallas has six first-round choices between now and 2031, including one in the next two seasons.
Photo Courtesy of © Jerome Miron Imagn Images
