The NBA world was shattered the morning of February 2nd. At 12:21 AM, The Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers. Coaches, fans, and the players being traded could not believe this: Never before had such talented players been exchanged in this manner.
Graphic released following the announcement of the trade (clutchpoints.com)
Who was being traded?
Luka Dončić, the Slovenian basketball superstar, had called Dallas home for seven seasons. In that time, the Europeans averaged close to 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists per game. His incredible statline has allowed him to be named five consecutive All-NBA 1st Teams, one of the highest achievements after a regular season (NBA). Last season, Dončić led his team all the way to the NBA Finals. For these reasons, it is insane to even think any front office executive can imagine a world without Luka leading the Mavericks.
Anthony Davis is the opposing star in the blockbuster trade, a 12-year NBA veteran and Chicago native. Davis had played for only two other teams before being shipped off to the Lone Star State, the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans. For those two teams, Davis averaged around 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. Even with his longevity, Davis has one less All-NBA 1st Team selection than Luka (NBA).
Why was the trade so shocking?
NBA trades happen often. Every year at least one superstar making hundreds of millions of dollars is upset or frustrated in his current situation or is looking for a change of scenery. In the past few years, big names like James Harden, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, and Jimmy Butler have all been traded. What makes this trade so shocking is that two All-NBA players had never been traded for each other mid-season (NBA). Both the Lakers and Mavericks had high chances at a successful season and making the playoffs with the team they had built. Toppling the entire card house had never been done! Another aspect of this trade is the skillsets of the respective players. The two players play entirely different positions while only being four inches and 20 pounds apart. Anthony Davis is an incredible defender and last line of defense when it comes to paint protection while also being a dynamic point forward on the offensive side of the ball. Luka Dončić is a powerful unit who plays a European style of basketball; flashy passes and insane shots that find their way into the basket somehow. His talent again raises the question of why would the Dallas Mavericks trade him for anything less than an entire team and then some? The answer was Dončić’s weight. The team thought their franchise player was a little too chunky.
