The Most Insane Trade I Have Ever Seen

Since the news broke in the early hours of Sunday, the 2nd, I have been considering how to write about this trade. I think the only way to analyze it is from two different viewpoints. After much thinking, talking, and listening, I am ready to write about the most shocking trade in NBA history. So, without further ado, here’s my take.

The Tactical View

After examining a trade as crazy as Sunday morning’s, one can only ask: how and why? The Dallas Mavericks traded away their franchise player, Luka Doncic, along with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris. In return, the Mavericks received Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and the Lakers' 2029 first-round pick. The Utah Jazz were also involved in this trade, receiving a young player in Jalen Hood-Schifino (but who really cares about the Jazz anyway?).

Of course, when you trade a player as incredible as Luka Doncic, you must have your reasons. GM Nico Harrison cited concerns about Luka Doncic gaining weight while injured, as well as hesitation about offering him a supermax contract this summer, which would have made him the highest-paid player in NBA history.

There are many different ways to react to this news and many different ways to respond to the initial reactions.

Reaction #1 - How bad was the situation with a player as good as Luka Doncic that the front office decided to trade their once-in-a-generation franchise player for an aging Anthony Davis and a couple of decent players?

Reaction 1a - Does this mean Luka was the problem?
Reaction 1b - How could Luka have been the problem?

These were some of my initial thoughts when the trade was announced. Now, I don’t think it's smart to act like Anthony Davis isn’t a great player—he is easily top 15 in the league right now. I also don’t want to immediately conclude that Luka Doncic didn’t deserve to be traded. Maybe he truly wasn’t fitting in with the culture of the organization. I hate to say it, but Luka does whine a lot. I’m not saying that’s a good enough reason to trade someone, but I’m just playing devil's advocate.

That was Reaction #1. Now, here’s Reaction #2.

Reaction #2 - Why in the world would anyone ever do this?

Luka Doncic is 25 years old. He has been in the NBA for six years and has been an All-NBA player and MVP candidate for five of those seasons. And you thought that just because he gained some weight and strained his calf, you should trade him???

Reaction 2a - Nico Harrison is a freaking idiot.
Reaction 2b - Even if this was about his weight gain or even, let's say, a poor attitude, you couldn’t call, oh, I don’t know, GODDAMN DIRK NOWITZKI to talk some sense into him???

How do you trade Luka Doncic?

I know that was a lot of reactions to process, but here’s the thing—Reactions 1 and 2 go hand in hand. Was Luka Doncic really a problem? If he was, then why not get someone he looks up to or respects, like Dirk Nowitzki, to come talk to him?

As we continue analyzing this trade from a tactical perspective, we must examine the Mavericks post-Luka and the Lakers post-Anthony Davis. Yes, the trade was shocking, but the Mavericks now have a ton of depth to work with. A duo of Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving could be a nightmare for opposing teams. Also, we need to stop acting like Anthony Davis is some scrub—he is having an incredible season and should be an All-Star starter this year.

As for the Lakers, the LeBron-and-Luka pairing will be interesting to watch. Both players impact the game most when they have the ball in their hands. Luka Doncic is not the kind of player who thrives off the ball, and neither is LeBron.

Another takeaway from this trade is that Rob Pelinka has set up the Lakers' future post-LeBron James. For the first time in his career, LeBron is no longer the primary focal point of his team.

The tactical view must be assessed purely through the lens of what each team accomplished (or failed to accomplish) with this trade.

Another takeaway from this trade is that no star is safe from being traded.

Now, it’s time for the emotional view.

The Emotional View - Betrayal

The Dallas Mavericks betrayed Luka Doncic.

Luka Doncic was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks at 19 years old. In his six years as an NBA player, he has been an MVP candidate in every season except his rookie year and has made the All-NBA First Team five times. He led the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals in 2022 and, just last season, took them to the NBA Finals.

He is a once-in-a-generation player. He gave everything to the fans of the Dallas Mavericks and the people of Dallas. And yet, the Mavericks traded him away like he was just any other player.

You don’t do that to a player like Luka Doncic.

Before Luka Doncic, the Mavericks had one other once-in-a-generation franchise player: Dirk Nowitzki. Dirk helped deliver the Mavericks their only championship.

Through all the ups and downs, the Mavericks stood by Dirk, and Dirk stood by Dallas. Luka Doncic, like Nowitzki, was staying true to Dallas. He nearly led the Mavericks to the promised land last June. All the Mavericks had to do was stay true to Luka, just as they had with Dirk. Through all the highs and lows, they should have stood by their star, just as he would have stood by them.

But this time, the Mavericks didn’t stand by their star at all. They betrayed him—shipped him away to LA, breaking their bond with a man who would have remained loyal to them. The Mavs did the exact opposite of what they did with Dirk. That is why this trade is so shocking. That is why this trade hurts so much, even for people who aren’t Mavs fans.

Yes, at the end of the day, the NBA is a business. But damn, who would have thought that someone as incredible as Luka Doncic could be traded on a random Saturday night, without any warning?

The Mavericks may have positioned themselves better to win a championship, but it certainly won’t feel the same without Luka Doncic. He was supposed to surpass Dirk’s greatness in Dallas. He was supposed to stand alongside Dirk with a statue outside of American Airlines Center.

Sadly for Mavs fans, the NBA is, and always will be, a business. The legend of Luka will live on in Dallas, but a new Magic has returned to the Purple and Gold.