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The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 NBA trade deadline. While you were sleeping (or preparing to sleep), Luka Don
ić got traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
I’m sorry but … WHAT!?!?!? How? Why?
We don’t have all the answers just yet, but as we absorb the news of the NBA’s blockbuster Lakers-Mavericks-Jazz three-way trade, we can look at the big picture and make some key takeaways.
This is perhaps the most shocking trade in NBA annal, at least in my time circling the sun. Out of the blue, a 25-year-old superstar with time left to run on his contract has changed teams. I’m sure there’s more backstory we’re going to find out in the coming days, but right now, it looks like a massive risk for the Mavericks and an incredible stroke of fortune for the Lakers.
Per league sources, the terms are that Don
ić, Markieff Morris and Maxi Kleber are going to the Lakers, and Anthony Davis and Max Christie are going to Dallas. Jalen Hood-Schifino goes to Utah along with a 2025 second-round pick from each team.
Let’s start with the lowest-hanging fruit. The easiest side to analyze is that of Los Angeles: This was absolutely a no-brainer for the Lakers.
Regardless of what you may think about Don
ić’s injuries or conditioning or attitude or complaining to officials or whatever, the full-strength version of Luka is easily a top-five player in the league.
Secondarily, can we talk about Davis’ position? His stated preference is to play power forward, but the problem is that, offensively, he’s not very good at it; he’s much more effective playing the center spot.
As for attracting future talent to the Lakers, that’s easier with Don
ić because the Lakers will actually have him at a discount. He is no longer eligible to sign a gargantuan supermax this summer and can only extend for 30 percent of the cap beginning in 2026-27.
Now for the fun part. The construction of this trade is pretty technical because both teams were in the luxury tax at the time of the deal.
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