Ken Blaze- Imagn Images
If you haven’t heard by now, and i’m not sure how that’s even possible at this point, Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic was traded to the Lakers in the late hours of the night Saturday for fellow superstar Anthony Davis and a future first-round pick, among other assets split between the two teams.
The Mavericks had to play a basketball game Sunday afternoon just hours after the biggest trade in franchise history against the best team in the Eastern Conference this year in the Cleveland Cavaliers. It did not go well, to say the least.
When ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania first tweeted out the trade just after midnight on the East Coast Sunday morning, many didn’t believe him. I don’t mean to use “didn’t believe him” as a figure of speech. They legitimately didn’t believe him. But, confirmation came a few minutes later that he hadn’t been hacked and that the trade was real.
Yes, this is real. Sources tell ESPN: Full trade:
– Lakers: Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris
– Mavericks: Anthony Davis, Max Christie, 2029 LAL 1st
– Jazz: Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2025 Clippers 2nd, 2025 Mavericks 2nd https://t.co/bltojdTaQj
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2025
Dallas still had to play a game on Sunday as the team reeled from the trade. They did not play well, to say the least. They lost 144-101, but the game wasn’t even that close.
— Ryan Spoon (@ryanspoon) February 2, 2025
Mavs vs. Cavs at the half 😳 pic.twitter.com/5n1bnFZ75w
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) February 2, 2025
Now, the Mavericks ran out a starting lineup of Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Kylor Kelley, Spencer Dinwiddie, Klay Thompson and Dante Exum. But, still, getting doubled up at half in the NBA is pretty rare. Kyrie Irving didn’t play due to right shoulder soreness, which makes the score more understandable.
It’s not a good look to get blown out like this just days after arguably the most surprising trade in franchise history. But, when the Mavericks get everyone back in the lineup, they’re going to be pretty darn good.