The Los Angeles Lakers… traded for Luka Doncic in the early hours of Sunday morning on the east coast, or the late evening out west.
It’s completely baffling. Not to call foul, but the Lakers of all teams getting a generational talent gift-wrapped for them by the NBA’s most incompetent front office is maddening. There was no defensible basketball reason for Nico Harrison to swap Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis. The Mavs’ roster fits worse now, and the engine behind their 2024 NBA Finals appearance is no more.
All that “defense wins championship” nonsense is just that — nonsense. Of course defense is important, but Dallas was an excellent defensive unit last season, without Davis. The Mavs have an up-and-coming rim protector in Derrick Lively and several plus defenders on the wing. Davis raises their floor on that end, no doubt, but he dramatically worsens their offensive projection in comparison to Doncic. This is a total dud.
The Lakers have Luka Doncic and LeBron James right now, with a chance to build the next decade of Lakers basketball around a perennial MVP candidate. It’s absurd to keep typing that and for it to be true.
Now attention turns to the Golden State Warriors, who have been active in trade talks ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline. With Doncic in the division, there’s increased pressure on the Dubs front office to do something. Anything, really.
The LeBron pipe dreams are nice, but it’s out of the question. And, to be frank, the Dubs can probably find a more sustainable solution to what ails them on the trade market.