Image Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Mavericks reportedly trading Luka Doncic to Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis in blockbuster deal

It's a three-team deal that includes the Utah Jazz.

Image Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN’s Shams Charania dropped the biggest NBA update on Saturday as Dallas Mavericks star, Luka Doncic has been reportedly traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. It’s a three-team deal that includes the Utah Jazz.

Sources told to ESPN, the Mavericks are also trading Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Lakers for Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick. This is the most unexpected trade ever but some rumors were floating last season.

BREAKING: The Dallas Mavericks are trading Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Three-team deal that includes Utah.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2025

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What’s the outcome of this blockbuster deal?

Sources said that the Dallas Mavericks made the first approach and offered Luka Doncic. The Lakers accepted the trade offer, considering the quality of the 25-year-old guard. Los Angeles Lakers considered Luka Doncic as the future face of the franchise. LeBron James is in his 40s and next season could be his last.

It’s also a win-win situation for the Dallas Mavericks, who will get the Lakers All-Star in the trade. A rift between Anthony Davis and Lakers management was forming when the All-Star had an interview with ESPN last month.

NBA insider, Bobby Marks has given a contract insight on this blockbuster deal.

Here are the contracts going out in the blockbuster AD/Luka trade.

To LA Lakers:

🏀Luka Doncic ($43M, $46M and $48.9M (P))

*⃣He is extension eligible this summer: 5/$229M

🏀Maxi Kleber ($11M and $11M)

🏀Markieff Morris ($2.1M)

To Dallas:

🏀🏀Anthony Davis ($43.2M, $54.1M,…
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 2, 2025

Sources told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon that the Dallas Mavericks were worried about moving forward with Doncic due to the looming commitment of another supermax contract extension this summer.

“I believe that defense wins championships,” Mavs general manager Nico Harrison spoke to MacMahon regarding the trade. “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.”

LeBron James, who dropped a triple-double against the Knicks on Saturday night, was out to dinner with his family when he got to know about this trade. As per the sources, the 40-year-old guard was surprised and couldn’t believe.

Luka Doncic has remained sidelined since December with a calf injury and the 25-year-old is likely to return to the court before All-Star weekend. On the other hand, Anthony Davis’s recovery process is going faster and he may take one more week to make his debut for the Mavericks.

Utah Jazz will be the third team in this blockbuster deal. The franchise will receive Lakers guard Jalen Hood-Schifino and 2025 second-round picks from the LA Clippers and Mavericks.

Here is the full trade involving the Mavericks, Lakers and Jazz:

Lakers : Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris
Mavericks : Anthony Davis, Max Christie, 2029 LAL 1st
Jazz : Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2025 Clippers 2nd, 2025 Mavericks 2nd

Image Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Anthony Davis

Dallas Mavericks

Los Angeles Lakers

Luka Doncic

Max Christie

Gulshan Sharma

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.