Fake Tweet?! How Historic Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis Lakers Trade Went Down 1 Year Later

On Feb. 2, 2025 at 12:12 a.m. ET, ESPN's Shams Charania revealed one of the most shocking news items in NBA history.

One year later, it still must be seen to be believed.

This still doesn't make sense: Why would the Dallas Mavericks trade away 26-year-old Luka Dončić, a five-time All-NBA guard who just led the team to the NBA Finals the year before?

Moreover, how did the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the league's iconic franchises, get lucky enough to benefit from Mavs general manager Nico Harrison's decision?

Dončić is a tremendous offensive player. Through his seven years in Dallas, he averaged 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.3 assists.

However, defense wasn't his calling card, and it's clear Harrison valued defense quite a bit. He said that over and over again.

"I believe that defense wins championships," Harrison told Tim MacMahon of ESPN. "I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We're built to win now and in the future."

As MacMahon relayed in mid-April, Harrison had a discussion with Dallas-based media in mid-April. Harrison said he had "no regrets" about the trade and stressed the importance of defense.

"But our philosophy, like I said, going forward is defense wins championships and we're built on defense. And this trade cements us for that."

He reiterated his mantra again later in the presser: "I'll say this again: Defense wins championships."

Those were all on-the-record comment. Off-the-record, word arose about apparent "conditioning" concerns, per McMahon (h/t ESPN's Dave McMenamin).

"The Mavericks were motivated to move Dončić because of his constant conditioning concerns, sources told MacMahon. There had been significant frustration within the organization about Dončić's lack of discipline regarding his diet and conditioning, which team sources considered a major factor in his injury issues.

"Though Dončić was relatively lean by his standards when he reported to camp, his weight ballooned to the high 260s early this season, sources said. He sat out five games in late November, when the Mavericks listed him with a sprained right wrist, an extended absence to allow Dončić to focus on his conditioning. He had a similar early-season layoff in the 2022-23 season."

Harrison was said to have "doubts" about Dončić, per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon.

"...But he wasn't a relentless worker like Bryant. He didn't treat his body like a temple like James.

"The Mavericks' frustrations with Dončić's habits on and off the court were well known in league circles. Head coach Jason Kidd frequently expressed concerns publicly and directly with Doncic about his conditioning, weight fluctuations and constant arguing with officials."

Dončić had a five-year, $215 million extension that ran through the 2025-26 season (2026-27 player option). He was eligible to sign a five-year, $345 million extension. So the Mavericks and Doncic would have had a big decision to make about their collective future.

However, Dallas made their call, trading Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Max Christie, Anthony Davis and a 2029 1st round draft pick. The Utah Jazz were also included in the three-team deal to make the salary cap particulars work.

Shelburne and Tim MacMahon went in-depth on all the parameters of trade.

Three things of note:

1. Harrison and Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka have a relationship dating back to 2003, when both were young agents working for superagent Arn Tellem's company SFX. Tellem is best known for representing late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. Per the ESPN duo, the trade talks began on Jan. 7 in the Ascension Coffee shop in the lobby of the Hotel Crescent Court nearby the American Airlines Center, where the Mavs play.
2. Harrison clearly coveted Davis, which makes sense given his love of defense. Although Davis was 32 years old and has a history of injuries, he is a five-time All-Defensive Team member and three-time blocking champion while averaging 24.0 points and 10.7 rebounds lifetime. Clearly, Harrison saw the value in adding AD.
3. This deal wasn't happening if former governor Mark Cuban was still in charge of the franchise. He said as much on "Your Mom's House" podcast and called the move "painful" and a "huge mistake." It seems as though new governor Patrick Dumont saw Harrison's vision, per the ESPN duo: "Dumont saw it as a business decision that would preserve the Mavericks' financial flexibility for the long term, team sources said, and he trusted Harrison's vision of how Davis would be a culture-setter and give the team a new defense-minded identity."

In the closing days leading up to the trade, Harrison got the Utah involved. One thing led to another, and the seismic trade shook up the NBA overnight.

Needless to say, people directly involved in the trade were stunned.

"It was a big shock," Dončić said, per ESPN News Services. "[Dallas] was home, so it was really hard moments for me. ... [But now] I get to play in the greatest club in the world, and I'm excited for this new journey.

"... I would say I always take the high road. I had my amazing moments in Dallas with all my teammates, coaches and most importantly the fans. They always supported me, and it was an amazing journey."

Davis was just as surprised.

"I was shocked," Davis said, per ESPN's Tim Bontemps a few days after the trade.

"I had just sent the team a text about congratulations on the win against the Knicks, big win, and then looking forward to Tuesday's game against the Clippers, as far as standing purposes. And then, found out like an hour later I was no longer with the team. I was in shock, obviously. Had no idea that it was happening."

But, I mean, now I'm kind of over it, and just kind of getting ready to play with Dallas."

In the present day, Dončić is averaging 33.7 points, 8.8 assists and 7.7 rebounds, and he's well on his way to an All-NBA First Team season for the 29-18 Lakers.

Davis, unfortunately, has been beset by numerous injuries, and he's only played 29 total regular season games in Dallas. He is currently working his way back after suffering ligament damage in his left hand on Jan. 8 against the Utah Jazz.

As for the Mavs, they received great lottery luck in May by landing the No. 1 overall draft pick despite having just a 1.8 percent chance to do so. Dallas took Duke superstar Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick, and he appears well on his way to Rookie of the Year honors (19.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.5 APG).

However, the Mavs as a whole have struggled, set back in part by injuries to Davis and the absence of Kyrie Irving (torn ACL last March). Of course, the team could also use Dončić and his offensive wizardry as well.

After a 3-8 start this year, the Mavs parted ways with Harrison. Dallas currently sits 11th in the Western Conference.