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Matthew Adams
Assistant Editor
The NBA has witnessed a significant shift with a trade that many will talk about for years to come. Luka Doncic, former Dallas Mavericks superstar has been traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a four-team trade.
Players, sports personalities, and the whole internet were collectively in shock as NBA reporter Shams Charnia announced the news.
The initial report stated, “BREAKING: The Dallas Mavericks are trading Luka Doncic, and Maxi Kleber to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Three-team trade deal that includes Utah.”
As part of the trade, the Utah Jazz received Jalen Hood-Schifino from the Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers’ 2025 second-round pick, as well as the Mavericks’ 2025 second-round selection.
Doncic was on pace to reconstruct and possibly sign a supermax contract that would have been upwards of $345 million dollars. He would lose close to 116 million dollars by being traded.
Doncic left the Mavericks averaging a near triple-double with 28.1 points, 7.3 assists, and 8.3 rebounds. As one-star player leaves the Mavericks, another is determined to make his mark on a new team.
Davis joins Kyrie Irving and crew on another Western Conference team. The former Lakers champion left the Lakers averaging 25.7 points, 3.4 assists, and 11.9 rebounds.
Many NBA players were in shock after the trade occurred. Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards articulated what many have been saying during a locker room interview.
Edwards stated, “They say that no one knew about the trade… at 25, they probably traded the best scorer in the NBA at 25, and he didn’t know about it. It’s a lot more digging someone has to do,” said Edwards. “You don’t just trade him at 25, he just went to the finals…I feel bad for Luka.”
ESPNs First Take hosts Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe would join the disbelief. Both would share with an audience of millions the feelings they have towards this trade.
“There has to be so much more to how bad things were between him and the Mavericks organization. If they got love for you or whatever, they (are going) to let your agent know. They (are going) to tip you off. What they are not going to do is cost you over a $100 million dollars.” Smith explained.
The trade sparked major reactions, even Jackson State University students would share the same sentiments as the sports commentators.
Jarrett Brown, a junior graphic design major from Inland Empire, Calif., was initially unimpressed by the trade but later realized Doncic could add immense value to the Lakers organization.
“As a Lakers fan, at first I was a little hurt because of all that Anthony Davis did for the franchise but then I realized when an opportunity to get a generational talent like Luka falls into your lap you gotta take it,” said Brown. “As a basketball move, this sets the Lakers up for the future when Bron (Lebron) retires… It’s always going to be Lakers in 5.”
Marrion Longino, a freshman management major from Ridgeland Miss. feels as if Doncic was not treated fairly.
Longino stated, “I personally feel like the ownership shipped off prime Luka Doncic out of pure greed and spite. The rich get richer as far as the Lakers are concerned,” said Longino. “I don’t see why the GM (General Manager) of the Mavs is getting so much hate when he is the mere scapegoat of this situation.”
Doncic made his epic Lakers debut on Feb. 10, 2025.
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