In a blockbuster trade, Luka Doncic has been acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. This trade brings one of the league’s most promising young talents, poised at the cusp of his prime years, to the Lakers’ roster. Doncic, who impressed by finishing third in the MVP voting last season and leading the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals, will now join forces with LeBron James in Los Angeles. Before sustaining a calf injury on Christmas, Doncic showcased his prowess by averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game, while maintaining shooting percentages of 46.4% from the field and 35.4% from beyond the arc this season.
Doncic’s arrival not only bolsters the Lakers’ offensive capabilities under coach JJ Redick but also positions him as a potential face of the franchise once LeBron James, currently 40 years old, decides to retire. On the other side of the trade, the Mavericks gain the versatile skills of Anthony Davis, who provides elite offensive and defensive contributions. Davis, with impressive averages of 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 1.2 steals in the 2024-25 season, will now team up with Kyrie Irving and a deep Dallas roster featuring other key contributors such as Klay Thompson.
Heading into the future, Davis is locked in with a three-year extension signed prior to the 2023-24 season, keeping him contracted through 2027-28 for $175.3 million. However, there remains a player option for the 2027-28 season, giving Davis the potential to explore free agency in the summer of 2027. Meanwhile, Doncic’s lucrative five-year, $215.1 million contract with the Mavericks, signed in 2022, ties him to the team through 2026-27, with a possible free agency opportunity in 2026 and eligibility for an extension this summer.
As the trade reshapes the dynamics of both teams, the Lakers currently hold a 28-19 record, placing them fifth in the Western Conference standings, just one game behind the Denver Nuggets. Conversely, the Mavericks sit at 26-23, occupying the ninth spot in the West, but remain within striking distance at just 2.5 games behind the sixth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers.
This update provides the latest details on the monumental trade between the Lakers and Mavericks involving Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis. For more in-depth coverage, visit USA TODAY for the original article.
