Lakers & Mavericks Pull Off Blockbuster Trade: Luka Dončić Heads to LA, Anthony Davis to Dallas

In a stunning blockbuster trade, Luka Dončić and Anthony Davis are swapping teams, shaking up the NBA landscape.

The Dallas Mavericks announced Sunday that they have traded Dončić, a leading MVP candidate, to the Los Angeles Lakers. In return, the Mavericks receive 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis, young guard Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round draft pick. The deal also involves the Utah Jazz, who will acquire Jalen Hood-Schifino along with two second-round picks—one from Dallas and another from the Lakers. Additionally, Los Angeles adds veteran forwards Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris.

Trade Details:

Lakers Receive:

• Luka Dončić
• Maxi Kleber
• Markieff Morris
  
  

Mavericks Receive:

• Anthony Davis
• Max Christie
• 2029 first-round pick
  

Jazz Receive:

• Jalen Hood-Schifino
• 2025 second-round pick (from Mavericks)
• 2025 second-round pick (from Clippers)

The news, first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, sent shockwaves through the basketball world. Some even questioned whether his account had been hacked when the trade was announced shortly after the Lakers' win over the Knicks. Davis, who had been dealing with an abdominal injury, was not with the team for that game.

The trade had been in the works for nearly a month, but negotiations were kept under wraps by Mavericks GM Nico Harrison and Lakers GM Rob Pelinka. Even Dallas head coach Jason Kidd was left in the dark until the final stages. His reaction? Pure shock. However, he later admitted he believes the move is beneficial for the team’s future.

Pelinka praised Dončić as a generational talent and a key piece of the Lakers' future. The 25-year-old Slovenian star, who led the league in scoring last season (33.9 PPG), has been recovering from a calf strain but remains one of the most dominant offensive players in NBA history. He led Dallas to the Finals last year alongside Kyrie Irving, marking the Mavericks' first Finals appearance since their 2011 championship run.

Davis, meanwhile, has built an elite résumé of his own. The 31-year-old big man played a crucial role in the Lakers’ 2020 championship and has consistently put up All-Star numbers, averaging 25.7 points and 11.9 rebounds this season. Interestingly, Davis and LeBron James had been pushing for Los Angeles to add a center to the roster, but instead, the Lakers chose to trade Davis—a decision that reportedly caught James off guard.

For Dallas, the move is about defense. Harrison emphasized that bringing in a dominant two-way player like Davis gives the team a better chance at contending for a title. However, not all Mavericks fans are convinced—it even led to protests outside the team’s arena.

Harrison acknowledged the risk but stood by the decision. “It would have been easier to do nothing and get praised for it, but we believe this is the right move. Time will tell,” he said.