Trade was secretly assembleWith only a few precious people knowing what was going on. Luka Donci did not know. Anthony Davis did not know. Their coaches did not know. Their teammates did not know.
And then it happened – an absolute blockbuster. Doncic led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA final last season, Davis won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and now they change teams in a movement that has amazed almost everyone in the League.
“I thought I would spend my career here, and I wanted to bring you a championship so much,” said so much in a farewell message written to Mavs fans. “The love and support you have given me all is more than what I could never have dreamed of.”
Dononic was exchanged by the title champion of the Western Conference Mavericks in Lakers against Davis as part of an agreement with three teams. Trade was announced Sunday morning after the teams obtained the required approval of the League.
The commercial talks, which took place over about a month, were kept extremely tight by the director general of Mavericks, Nico Harrison, and the director general of Lakers Rob Pelinka.
The first reaction of Mavs coach Jason Kidd? “Shock,” said Kidd, although he added later that he thought it was the right decision for his team in the future.
Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris also headed for Lakers, while Max Christie went to Dallas. Utah Jazz was also involved, obtaining Jalen Hood-Schifino and a second round in 2025 of Mavs and Lakers.
“Sports are transformer moments,” said Pelinka. “We are inspired by these moments that fans of the Lakers know, wait and love with a franchise which continuously inaugurates the new eras of grandeur. … Luka is a young unique world superstar who will direct this franchise for the coming years. His killer instinct and his commitment to winning championships will be an engine of the team. »»
Commercial news broke shortly after The Lakers beat the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Davis was not with the Lakers for the match; He was in Los Angeles due to an abdominal injury that was to be assessed.
Donic did not play for Dallas since ChristmasWhen he got out of a match with a tense left calf. Trade could have a serious price for Dononic, which can no longer sign an extension of the five -year Supermax contract this summer which could have worth around $ 345 million.
It has never been clear if the MAV would have offered such a massive matter. Doncic would also have had the opportunity to leave as a free agent after the 2025-26 season, and it is certain that other teams in the hope of winning the Slovenian star have planned such scenarios.
“There are other teams in charge,” said Harrison on Sunday. “He was going to be able to make his own decision at some point if he wanted to be here or not here, if we want the supermax or not, or if he wants to withdraw. We had to take all this into consideration and I have the impression that we came out in front of what could have been a tumultuous summer. »»
Dononic is still eligible for an extension this summer, with the maximum that Lakers could offer him five years at around $ 230 million – a difference of $ 115 million than what the supermax could have been.
“Luka absolutely didn’t deserve that. … He really respected Dallas, “said Sasa Doncic, Luka’s father, on Slovenian television on Sunday.
The agreement applies Doncic with LeBron James as the new Punch 1-2 in Los Angeles, while Davis would form a new star duo with Kyrie Irving in Dallas. And it therefore brings together with his former teammate, Lakers coach JJ Redick.
Dononic was one of the Mavericks players on the ground when Redick came out of a match for the last time on May 11, 2021.
For the Mavericks, the decision has largely resolved that Davis does on the defensive side of speech.
“We believe that the defense wins the championships and we bring one of the best double sense players in the league,” said Harrison. He added that Davis’ ability to be the elite at both ends makes him “a unique unicorn” in the NBA.
“We have the impression that we are built to win now as well as in the future,” said Harrison.
There was still a match in the NBA late Saturday evening when the trade was starting to emerge, it is Phoenix-Portland. The guardian of the Suns Devin Booker said that someone in the stands had told him and his teammates of the profession.
“They said Luka. I said, “Luka Garza?” Said Booker, referring to a minnesota center.
Booker did not try to be funny. He just thought what many probably thought – that there was no way that the Mavs are moving.
“It’s crazy, guy. I really don’t know what to say, “said Booker. “Luka being a guy that everyone has said is untouchable and unrevable. The NBA shows you again. I can’t predict. It’s a business. They always have a conversation about you. So don’t think you are safe than you.
Addition of a Suns Suns Kevin star during: “Force. It’s crazy. Mad. Damn, never thought that Luka Doncic would be exchanged. At its age, in mid-season, the NBA is a wild place, guy. If he can be exchanged, everyone is to be won. »»
Dallas played in Cleveland on Sunday, while the Lakers left to visit the Los Angeles clippers on Tuesday evening. It is not clear when Donic or Davis could play for their new clubs; There is no firm calendar for their injury yields.
Among the players with at least 400 games, the average of 28.6 Doncic points is third in the history of the NBA behind Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain – both at 30.1.
He finished third in the MVP vote last season after having an average of 33.9 points, 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds per game, easily one of the largest seasons in the history of the League. Doncic – which will be 26 years later this month and refers to James as an “idol” – had a match of 73 points against Atlanta on January 26, 2024, equaling the fourth highest point of all time in a NBA match. Only Chamberlain (100), Kobe Bryant (81) and Chamberlain (78) marked more.
Davis, a choice of stars this year for the 10th time in his career, will be 32 years next month. He is part of the NBA 75th anniversary team, helped the Lakers win the NBA title in the bubble in 2020 and – as Dononic – is an all -NBA selection five times.
Dononic is on average 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists this season. Davis is on average 25.7 points and 11.9 rebounds.
Harrison understands the risk and anger of some in the Mavs fans base; On Sunday, some people protested the team in Dallas in front of the team. He exchanged a young superstar, someone who could easily be one of the best players in the game for the next decade, against a player in their thirties with a difficult injury story.
“I understand the magnitude,” said Harrison. “The easiest thing to do for me is to do nothing and everyone would praise me to do nothing. But we really believe in it and time will tell us if I am right.
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The sports writer AP Schuyler Dixon in Dallas and the independent writer AP Erik Garcia Gundersen in Portland, Oregon, contributed to this report.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
