LOS ANGELES, CA. – Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks participated in one of the most significant trades in professional sports history?
The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired five-time First Team All-NBA guard Luka Dončić, forward/center Maxi Kleber and forward/center Markieff Morris from the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team trade. In return, the Lakers sent forward Anthony Davis, guard Max Christie and a future first round draft pick to the Dallas Mavericks, while guard Jalen Hood-Schifino and a future second round pick were sent to the Utah Jazz.
“We are overwhelmingly thankful for AD’s six seasons with the Lakers, where he led our franchise to a championship and cemented himself as a perennial NBA All-Star,” said Lakers General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka. “We are proud of Max Christie’s development as a Laker as he has grown into an impact 3-and-D player and we are appreciative of the work Jalen Hood-Schifino has put in to show professionalism at every level. Sports are about transformative moments. We are inspired by these moments Lakers fans know, expect and love with a franchise that continually ushers in new eras of greatness.”
The Mavericks initiated the trade discussions.
Dončić is one of three players in league history to garner five All-NBA First Team selections before age 26, joining Kevin Durant and Tim Duncan. The 25-year-old has tallied 12,089 points, 3,655 rebounds and 3,489 assists and is one of two players in NBA history to record at least 10,000 points, 3,000 rebounds and 3,000 assists through their first 400 career games (Oscar Robertson).
“We understand the magnitude of what just transpired,” Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison said. “It is not lost on us, we would like to thank Luka for his brilliance over the last four years since Jason and I have been here.”
Dončić became the first Maverick to claim an NBA scoring title after averaging 33.9 points during the 2023-24 campaign. That season on Jan. 26, Dončić scored a franchise-record 73 points versus the Atlanta Hawks, which tied for the fourth-most in NBA history. He currently stands second all-time in triple-doubles by players aged 25 or younger with 80, trailing only Oscar Robertson (117).
“Luka is a one-of-a-kind, young global superstar who will lead this franchise for years to come,” continued Pelinka. “His killer instincts and commitment to winning championships will be a driving force for the team. We will be relentless in building a roster around the on-court vision Coach Redick has for this basketball team and there is an unwavering commitment to that work to serve our loyal and dedicated fans. We are grateful for today and look forward to what’s next.”
This season, Dončić has appeared in 22 games (all starts), averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 2.0 steals in 35.7 minutes. In 422 career NBA regular season games (all starts) across seven campaigns with Dallas (2018-25), Dončić has averaged 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 34.9 minutes. Dončić’s career points per game average in the regular season is the third highest in NBA history. In 50 career playoff games (all starts), he’s averaged 30.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.7 steals in 38.9 minutes with an NBA Finals appearance in 2024.
Dončić a five-time NBA All-Star ranks second all-time in playoff scoring average and tied-sixth in postseason triple-doubles (10). The Slovenian was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the third overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft prior to being traded to Dallas to begin his NBA career. Dončić went on to win the 2019 NBA Rookie of the Year award after averaging 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 32.2 minutes.
Nico Harrison, General Manager of the Mavericks, and Pelinka, share a longstanding professional relationship that began during Harrison’s tenure as Kobe Bryant’s marketing manager at Nike, while Pelinka served as Bryant’s agent.
“Defense wins championships,” Harrison said. “We are bringing in one of the best two way players in the league. A lot of people don’t talk about what he does defensively and offensively. You can name first team all NBA players that are first team defensive players.”
The Lakers’ front office, ownership group, and coaching staff demonstrated a unified commitment to the deal, expressing enthusiasm for the opportunity to acquire a promising young superstar in Luka Doncic, who is anticipated to be the future face of the franchise following LeBron James. They also acknowledged the significant effort required to achieve success in the NBA.
The agreement brings together Doncic and James as a formidable partnership in Los Angeles, while Davis is set to establish a new star duo alongside Kyrie Irving in Dallas.
The Mavericks were motivated to consider trading Doncic due to ongoing concerns about his conditioning, ESPN reported. There has been considerable frustration within the organization regarding Doncic’s discipline related to his diet and conditioning, which team sources identified as a significant factor contributing to his injury issues.
“There is levels to it,” Harrison added. “There is people who fit the culture, there are people who come in and add to the culture. The people who are coming in add to the culture.”
Doncic was in line to receive a five-year, $345 million contract this summer, but because of the trade, he is no longer eligible for a supermax deal.
The 6-foot-10 Davis has joined a Dallas team that already features notable size in its frontcourt, including the developing 6-foot-10 center Daniel Gafford and 7-foot-1 center Dereck Lively II, who is currently sidelined due to an ankle injury.
The agreement is both remarkable and unprecedented, marking the first instance in which two active All-NBA players have been exchanged for one another during the midseason.
Further information on the new acquisitions for the Lakers.
Kleber appeared in 34 games (four starts) for Dallas this season, averaging 3.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 18.7 minutes. In 440 career regular season games (151 starts) across eight campaigns with the Mavericks (2017-25), the 33-year-old has averaged 6.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 22.3 minutes. In 44 career NBA playoff contests (10 starts), he’s averaged 6.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 24.2 minutes. A native of Germany, Kleber went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft before signing with Dallas prior to the 2017-18 season.
Morris suited up in seven contests for Dallas this season, averaging 1.7 points and 1.1 rebounds in 5.9 minutes. In 783 career outings (379 starts) across 14 campaigns with Dallas (2023-25), Brooklyn (2022-23), Miami (2021-22), Los Angeles Lakers (2020-21), Detroit (2019-20), Oklahoma City (2018-19), Washington (2016-19) and Phoenix (2011-16), the 35-year-old has averaged 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 23.4 minutes. In 51 career NBA playoff games (22 starts) with the Wizards, Thunder, Lakers, Heat and Mavericks, the Pennsylvania native has averaged 7.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 20.6 minutes. Morris was a member of the 2020 Lakers championship team. The University of Kansas product (2008-11) was drafted by the Phoenix Suns with the 13th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
In 42 appearances (all starts) for the Lakers this season, Davis averaged 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.1 blocks in 34.3 minutes. In 778 career regular season NBA contests (771 starts) across 13 seasons with Los Angeles (2019-25) and New Orleans (2012-19), the 31-year-old has averaged 24.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.3 blocks in 34.5 minutes. Davis helped guide Los Angeles to the NBA championship in 2020 and earned four All-Star selections as a member of the Purple and Gold. The four-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection is one of eight players in NBA history to win an NBA Championship, an NCAA Championship and an Olympic gold medal.
In 46 outings (25 starts) for Los Angeles this season, Christie averaged 8.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 25.1 minutes. In 154 career regular season NBA games (35 starts), the 21-year-old holds career averages of 5.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in 16.9 minutes. Christie was selected with the 35th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Lakers.
Hood-Schifino suited up in 23 contests over the past two seasons with the Purple and Gold. He was drafted by the Lakers with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft.
The most surprising aspect of this trade is that it is uncommon to exchange star players for other star players. In fact, there may not have been any instances of an All-NBA player being traded for another All-NBA player in the history of NBA trades. Harrison could have maximized the trade’s potential by engaging more teams to create competitive offers for Luka rather than pursuing a quick agreement. Anthony Davis is an exceptional player, and the only other players comparable to this trade for Dončić would be Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo, both of whom are also distinguished as All-NBA talents.
The Mavericks are faced with the task of making a decision concerning his upcoming contract negotiations. The only individuals with comprehensive insights into Dončić are within the Mavericks organization, and they may possess information that is not publicly available. When offering a player a new contract, concerns related to injuries and conditioning can lead to prolonged uncertainty. Meanwhile, the Lakers have successfully secured the superstar they sought for the future.
In order for both teams to consider the trade successful, it is essential that each team secures a championship moving forward.
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