Saturday night, February 1, brought the surprising news of a Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade, and people are still taking about it. It’s going to be wild to see how this trade shakes out over the next few months and years, and plenty of Dallas Mavericks fans, analysts and experts are wondering why the heck their team would trade Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakes for not much in return. Seeing Doncic wearing the Los Angeles Lakers purple and gold is going to be wild.
Sunday morning, the Dallas Mavericks sent a statement out to fans thanking Doncic for his time with the franchise and welcoming in the organization’s newest players.
Nico Harrison Comments on Luka Doncic Trade
“We are thankful for Luka and grateful for his efforts during his time with us,” Mavericks GM Nico Harrison said in a press release. “He helped build this team and was an integral part of the success we’ve seen throughout the years, including our recent NBA Finals run, along with Maxi and Markieff who are veteran voices equally valued across this team.”
He added, “This is a new chapter, and we are excited to welcome Anthony and Max to the fold. AD is an experienced veteran, who can play both ends of the floor while helping elevate us defensively. He knows first-hand what it takes to win, and I know he’s motivated to be a part of what we’re building in Dallas.”
Doncic was understandably silent for a while, but now, he’s talking.
“Grateful for this amazing opportunity. Basketball means everything to me, and no matter where I play the game, I’ll do so with the same joy, passion and goal — to win championships,” Doncic said on his Instagram story.
Doncic is just wrapping up his first NBA Finals with his former team, the Mavericks, and it’s Dallas who initiated the trade with the Lakers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Harrison commented more on the trade after the initial shock wore off, stating that “I believe that defense wins championships” and adding that Anthony Davis is the reason he decided to trade Doncic.
“I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance,” he added. “We’re built to win now and in the future.”
‘I’m Not Going to Talk Bad’
Even with the blowback, Harrison strongly defended the trade during Sunday’s press conference.
“Listen, one thing about me, I’m not going to talk bad about any players,” Harrison said. “I mean, that’s not going to do us or me any good. I just say there’s levels to it. There’s people that fit the culture and there’s people that come in and add to the culture. And those are two distinct things. And I believe the people that [are] coming in are adding to the culture.”
“The [Mavericks] had major concerns about moving forward with Luka Doncic due to his constant conditioning issues and the looming commitment of another supermax contract extension this summer, sources told ESPN,” Tim MacMahon added on X.
The five-time NBA All-Star is out $116 million from the deal, but he could get some of that back if he resigns with the Lakers with a 2 plus 1 deal worth $165.3 million, according to ESPN’s front office insider Bobby Marks.