As earth-shattering as the Luka Dončić trade was from the Dallas Mavericks’ perspective, the Los Angeles Lakers also gave up a legitimate DPOY candidate in Anthony Davis to get the deal over the line.
Given the injury concerns and age consideration, the Lakers would probably make that trade again, but they weren’t walking away unscathed from the transaction.
But, Rob Pelinka went ahead with it, thanks to the blessing of franchise owner Jeanie Buss. Speaking to NPR about the trade, Buss revealed why she thought the deal was the best move to make from LAL’s perspective.
Jeanie Buss Airs The Truth About Anthony Davis and Luka Dončić Trade
It was unfathomable why the Mavericks would trade away an MVP candidate yet to enter his prime. While Davis has been a top-10 player in the league for the past decade or so, injuries have been a concern with him and he will soon turn 32.
On the Lakers front, getting a legitimate franchise superstar for the next decade was an opportunity you simply don’t pass up on. But, according to Buss, moving Davis was also becoming a possibility regardless. Speaking on the trade, Buss was candid about the decision-making process.
“Anthony Davis was complaining about where he was being played and he wasn’t happy. So I think this was a positive for both teams,” Buss told NPR. The “complaining,” as she put it, has been a theme over the last few years.
Anthony Davis' unhappiness on the Lakers helped lead to the Luka Dončić trade 👀
(via @NPR) pic.twitter.com/JTJasXJzqU
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 6, 2025
At 6-foot-10 and as one of the best defenders in the league, LAL chose to deploy AD as a permanent center. However, throughout his career, the 2020 NBA Champion has maintained his preference to play the 4.
As a result, there was some tension between LA and the 10-time All-Star over the franchise’s inability to add frontcourt depth to best complement him. For the past three seasons, Davis almost exclusively played center. But, the team wasn’t finding the success it did in the Bubble when they won the Championship with Davis playing the power forward role.
On the Mavs, both Derrick Lively Jr and Daniel Gafford have been more than adequate in logging in minutes at the 5, an arrangement that would allow Davis to take on the PF role he’s most comfortable with. While he’s currently out injured, the effects were clear as day to see in his lone outing with Dallas.
In 31 minutes, he was already up to 26 points and 16 rebounds, while adding seven assists and three blocks. In that same game, he went down with a groin injury and rumor has it that the franchise could consider shutting him down for the season, according to the latest report by Shams Charania.
As the 10th seed, their playoff hopes are already in jeopardy with Kyrie Irving set to miss the entirety of the season with a torn ACL. On the other hand, the Lakers have been on a roll since Dončić came to town.
They’ve won seven straight, have one of the best defenses in the league over the last month, and the Slovenian superstar is starting to look like his older self. What was potentially a move for the future might pay immediate dividends for LA, potentially giving them their 18th Championship and LeBron James his fifth ring.
