Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Dallas Mavericks pulled off one of the most consequential trades in NBA history over the weekend when they shipped franchise star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, however, there is essentially no one in the NBA world who understands the move or believes they won the transaction.
Despite the fact that Luka Doncic is a 25-year-old five-time All-NBA first team member and is widely considered to be one of the best players in the entire league, the Mavericks — who initiated the trade talks with the Lakers and did not speak with any other teams — traded him to Los Angeles for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick.
To put into context just how barren that trade haul is for a player of Doncic’s caliber, compare it to what the Nets were able to reel in when they traded then 34-year-old Kevin Durant.
As pointed out by Nets beat reporter Erik Slater, the Nets turned KD (through the initial and various subsequent trades) into the following assets:
-Cam Johnson, Ziaire Williams, 2023 PHX first, 2025 PHX first, 2025 NYK first, 2025 MIL first, 2027 PHX first, 2027 NYK first, 2028 PHX first swap, 2028 NYK first swap, 2029 PHX first, 2029 NYK first, 2031 NYK first, 2025 BKN second, 2028 MIL second, 2029 MIL second, and 2030 DAL second.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks have turned the 25-year-old Doncic into Davis, Christie, and a 2029 first round pick. That’s it.
Nets turned 34-year-old Kevin Durant into:
Cam Johnson
Ziaire Williams
2023 PHX first
2025 PHX first
2025 NYK first
2025 MIL first
2027 PHX first
2027 NYK first
2028 PHX first swap
2028 NYK first swap
2029 PHX first
2029 NYK first
2031 NYK first
2025 BKN second
2028 MIL second…— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) February 2, 2025
Mavs turned Luka, Brunson, and Porzingis into AD, Max Christie, and Spencer Dinwiddie
— Jake (@JakeWallinger) February 2, 2025
“I thought I’d spend my career here and I wanted so badly to bring you a championship. The love and support you all have given me is more than I could have ever dreamed of. For a young kid from Slovenia coming to the U.S. for the first time, you made North Texas feel like home,” Doncic said in a statement on Sunday.
#MFFL pic.twitter.com/qVMcV2uh5m
— Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) February 2, 2025
This season, which follows his first ever appearance in the NBA Finals last year, Doncic is avergaing 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game. He’s been limited to just 22 games this season due to injuries, however, and hasn’t suited up since Christmas Day to a calf strain.