The Luka Dončić trade to the Los Angeles Lakers isn’t even the most recent blockbuster that’s gone down in the NBA. That award goes to the De’Aaron Fox move to the San Antonio Spurs that further shook up the Western Conference. Nevertheless, the NBA’s elite still can’t get over just how insane the Dončić deal was.
From Josh Hart to Anthony Edwards, there are lingering reactions still permeating NBA locker rooms days after the “Luka to Lakers” trade was completed.
Anthony Edwards, Others Remain Flabbergasted by Luka Dončić Trade
The full trade (broken down below) involved two superstars getting traded for each other mid-season, an utter rarity in all of sports. It may well be the biggest trade in sports history since an in-his-prime Wayne Gretzky was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings.
Full trade details:
- Lakers get: Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris
- Dallas Mavericks get: Davis, Max Christie, Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick
- Utah Jazz get: Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2025 second-round pick via the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Mavericks’ 2025 second-round pick
Obviously, trading just one first-round pick for one of the best scorers in NBA history (who is just 25 years old) is patently absurd, and the NBA world continues to take notice of the relatively small price tag on Dončić’s head.
Hart, role player extraordinaire for the New York Knicks, acknowledged just how well the Lakers did in the trade and how poorly the Mavericks handled negotiations for a superstar player.
Josh Hart was asked for his thoughts on the Luka Dončić trade to the Lakers:
"Gotta give credit to Rob Pelinka, man. Highway robbery. It's always good for someone like me when I get traded for a superstar. I got traded for Luka, great vibes" 😂 pic.twitter.com/6VD8P2f3Jj
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 4, 2025
Edwards, who was vanquished by Dončić and the Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals last season, admitted that seeing a superstar of his caliber get dealt made him feel a bit uneasy about his own standing with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Ant Edwards on the Luka Dončić trade:
“At 25 they traded probably the best scorer in the NBA… And he didn’t know about it… I feel bad for Luka, man… that sucks…I’m scared!”
Just in case you wanted to know how other superstars feel about what the Mavs just did. pic.twitter.com/cwnVPvrCND
— Mavs Film Room 🐴🎥 (@MavsFilmRoom) February 4, 2025
Washington Wizards legend Gilbert Arenas commended Lakers’ general manager Rob Pelinka for his work in the deal, noting how the team is now well-positioned to add another superstar alongside Dončić once LeBron James retires.
“I know it’s the 1st, is this April Fools?!”
The Arena reacts to the historic Luka-Anthony Davis trade 🤣 pic.twitter.com/6fGpl03vql
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) February 3, 2025
Twelve-year NBA veteran Jeff Teague tried to understand the deal from the Mavericks’ perspective, admitting that Dončić is weak defensively and due for a massive contract extension in the near future. Still, Teague couldn’t help but admit that the Lakers were the clear winner in the deal.
Jeff Teague Reacts To Luka AD Trade pic.twitter.com/FpbYkF6ASQ
— Goin Over Basketball (@goinoverbuckets) February 3, 2025
Dončić has yet to suit up for the Lakers as he nurses a left calf strain. NBA correspondent Marc Stein suggested that Dončić could be back before the All-Star break, though that timeline may now be in flux in the wake of the trade.
Luka Dončić was targeting a Feb. 8 return from his calf strain, sources say, but long-term concerns about conditioning are said to have factored into Dallas' shocking change of course.
Now Anthony Davis will partner Kyrie Irving … and the Lakers have their heir to LeBron James.… https://t.co/SGmhMbg2Nc— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 2, 2025
Of course, the Mavericks didn’t get literally nothing in return. Davis is an All-Pro forward/center playing at a high level this season, though he is also recovering from an injury, as he is currently sitting out of game action with an abdominal strain.
The first-round pick (unprotected) looks valuable on the surface. However, given that it’s coming from a team that now has Dončić, it’s hard to say if it will amount to anything more than a pick in the mid-20s.
The fallout of this deal will take years to play out in its entirety, but the collective reactions of the NBA world should inform fans just how shocking and unexpected it was.
