An unprecedented trade occurred in NBA history.
Imagine a perennial MVP candidate being caught off guard and traded midseason? In the very next season after leading his team to the NBA Finals? As he nears his prime?
A year later, the transaction that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers remains shocking. NBA insiders continue to ponder the Dallas Mavericks’ seemingly inadequate return, regardless of the esteemed 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis.
“I’ve never witnessed a deal that triggered such widespread disbelief and confusion across the league,” a notable agent, not involved in the trade, shared with ESPN.
Our NBA experts analyze four of the most pressing questions concerning the Lakers, Mavericks, and the wider league as we mark the one-year anniversary of this remarkable trade.
Are the Lakers any closer to a title one year after the trade?
Just hours before the trade a year ago, a Lakers victory over the New York Knicks on Feb. 1 boosted their record to 28-19. This season, they entered New York on Feb. 1 with a near-identical record of 29-18.
Should this indicate that the trade was ineffective? Certainly not.
The comparable records can primarily be attributed to Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves only having eight games together this season due to injuries.
If the trade hadn’t happened and Davis had suffered a similar injury-plagued year — with Davis playing just 29 games as a Maverick and Doncic participating in 67 for the Lakers over two seasons — Los Angeles’ struggles this season could have been significantly more severe.
It’s challenging to view the Lakers as contenders — even with Doncic leading the league in scoring at 33.7 points per game — unless they can significantly enhance their current 25th-ranked defensive rating.
This doesn’t imply that the Lakers cannot elevate their status in the West — they sit fifth as Doncic, James, and Reaves have reunited on the court. It doesn’t preclude them from being formidable playoff competitors with those three leading the charge.
but, the only way this team can move markedly closer to a title this season is by executing another trade before Thursday’s deadline to resolve their 3-and-D deficiencies. — Dave McMenamin
How do the Mavericks move on from the short-lived AD era?
The “AD era” never truly began in Dallas.
The latter part of the last season felt like an extended grieving period for Mavs fans. A fortunate lottery stroke was essential to rekindle any glimmer of hope in an otherwise despondent fan base.
Once the Mavs defied 1.8% odds to secure the No. 1 pick, it became clear that Cooper Flagg — not Davis — was the franchise’s focus moving forward. The early-season termination of general manager Nico Harrison further established the franchise’s new direction.
In that regard, the Mavericks have embraced change. Future decisions will aim at maximizing their potential around the teenage talent and his upcoming developments.
That is why the Mavs have dedicated recent months to exploring trade opportunities for the 32-year-old Davis, whose fit within the franchise’s long-term strategy is questionable.
Dallas — particularly under governor Patrick Dumont, who ultimately decides franchise matters — must establish a threshold for making a Davis trade.
The ideal outcome from a Davis trade would involve first-round draft picks, emerging talents, and financial relief through expiring contracts. but, patience may be necessary, given that Davis is currently sidelined with another injury — ligament damage in his left hand is expected to keep him out until at least late this month.
Some within the organization are inclined to trade Davis even for just expiring contracts to gain the flexibility necessary for building around Flagg.
This notion, however, could be challenging to convince Dumont, who reportedly feels no immediate pressure to trade Davis. — Tim MacMahon
How has the trade impacted this year’s deadline?
To begin with, the architect of the trade, Mavericks GM Harrison, was dismissed in November.
During Harrison’s tenure, the Mavericks acquired Kyrie Irving, Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, and Davis in sequence over three deadlines.
With Harrison gone, the “win-now” mentality, focused on Irving and Davis, has shifted towards retooling around Flagg and a potentially high lottery pick in June’s draft.
A resolution regarding Davis’ future likely waits until the offseason, though the Mavericks may investigate options to streamline payroll and open a roster spot for two-way player Ryan Nembhard.
0:43
Windhorst: Mavs fired Nico Harrison to ‘save their brand’
Brian Windhorst discusses the rationale behind the dismissal of GM Nico Harrison.
As for the Lakers, the Doncic trade has them operating on two timelines during the deadline.
The current timeline involves augmenting a roster with Doncic, James, and Reaves while also focusing on long-term financial flexibility. They possess over $40 million in expiring contracts from Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and Maxi Kleber, as well as a 2031 or 2032 first-round pick available for trade. The future timeline aims to create a team centered around Doncic and Reaves.
With Doncic contracted for the next three seasons, the Lakers have the potential for $50 million in cap space this offseason and nearly double that by 2027.
plus, they will have three first-round picks (2026, 2031, and 2033) available for trade starting on draft night. — Bobby Marks
What are league insiders saying one year later?
Consistent feedback from around the NBA regarding the trade highlights ongoing astonishment that it even happened — as well as concerns about how Dallas might recover from the consequences.
Harrison’s dismissal resulted from the trade and its ramifications, and discussions about Davis’ future remain relevant — his value no longer resembles the high regard in which he was previously held when Harrison made him the focus of the trade.
Fortunately for the Mavericks, they were fortunate enough to draft Flagg last year. Without Flagg, the franchise could face bleak prospects in a highly competitive Western Conference.
Over recent months, sources have frequently reiterated to ESPN some version of, “Can you imagine where Dallas would be if they hadn’t won the lottery?”
Conversely, the Lakers continue to evolve post-trade. Ironically, prior to the trade, Dallas adeptly built a roster around Doncic, encompassing the necessary talent to enhance his skill set: rim-running, shot-blocking centers; versatile 3-and-D guards and forwards; and an additional high-level shot creator to relieve him during games.
While Los Angeles possesses that crucial element in Reaves (if retained as a free agent), they essentially need to rebuild the rest.
though they are the Lakers and will have cap space to structure their team around Doncic, assembling a championship-caliber roster in the West is undeniably a daunting task. — Tim Bontemps
