Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis swapped in one of craziest blockbusters in NBA history
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Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis in one of the most stunning trades in NBA history early Sunday morning.
The news was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania shortly after midnight on the east coast:
The trade was so stunning that fans, media and even NBA players were sure Charania had been hacked until confirmation of the deal came through social media over the next few minutes.
Doncic, who was an MVP finalist last season and led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals just 7 months ago, was widely viewed as one of the most untouchable players in the entire league. While Doncic has been battling a calf injury for the last several weeks, the 25-year-old averaged 34 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists per game in 2023-24.
According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the trade happened because Dallas was concerned about Doncic’s “constant conditioning issues” as well as looming contract extension negotiations.
The primary return for Doncic is former Kentucky star Anthony Davis, who will play in his 10th All-Star game later this month. Davis is averaging over 25 points per game and is viewed as one of the top rim protectors in the league.
Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison said early Sunday morning that Davis was someone the organization targeted in trade talks because of his 2-way ability.
“I believe that defense wins championships,” Harrison told ESPN said. “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.”
According to DraftKings, the Lakers now have the 6th-best odds to win the NBA Finals at +1700. The Mavericks are at +3500 after acquiring Davis to pair with Kyrie Irving.
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Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
