The NBA landscape was shaken to its core when the Los Angeles Lakers pulled off arguably the biggest trade in NBA history, sending out Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris.
The news was met with disbelief and bewilderment when it was confirmed and for good reason as there isn’t a precedent for a 25-year-old superstar like Doncic being dealt with no inklings whatsoever. Even Doncic admitted that he was surprised by the deal, but said he was excited for his new journey. Vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka deserves a lot of credit for being able to keep the negotiations for Doncic under wraps as any leaks would’ve surely torpedoed the deal.
The Lakers have always been built around superstars and they now have one in Doncic who can carry the franchise after LeBron James retires. However, the two will get to at least share the floor for the remainder of the 2024-25 season once Doncic returns from a calf injury. James
Prior to the team’s game against the L.A. Clippers, head coach JJ Redick expressed his confidence in Doncic and James’ ability to play together.
“You have two guys who have a high level of basketball intelligence that I’m very confident whether it’s playing a two-man game, a three-man game, playing minutes without each other…they’re gonna be productive. They’re gonna excel. I think for both those guys they have a killer’s mentality and that’s exciting,” Redick said.
With how smart and unselfish Doncic and James are as players, there should be little doubt about their ability to play together. Both players may need the basketball to be at their best, but their collective playmaking and shotmaking should quell any concerns.
There aren’t many examples of two superstar ball-handers like Doncic and James teaming up together in NBA history, so the excitement is palpable for the former’s Lakers debut. Although Doncic is still recovering from a calf injury, reporting lends some optimism that he’ll debut sooner than later which should give fans something to look forward to later this week.
Luka Doncic says goal is to win championships with Lakers
Luka Doncic was reportedly traded because of the Mavericks’ concerns about his conditioning and other issues, but now that he’s with the Lakers the superstar said his goal is to win championships with the storied franchise.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
