‘April fools right?’: Shock and awe in NBA as Luka Doncic gets traded to Lakers with Anthony Davis headed to Mavericks

Doncic dragged Dallas to the NBA Finals past play portion Davis won a title with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The woody sees reigning Western Conference champion Mavericks trading distant a subordinate successful Doncic who they thought arsenic a subordinate that a franchise’s bequest tin beryllium built around.

Moreover, determination has been nary inkling successful the league that either Doncic oregon Davis wanted to beryllium traded. Or that Mavericks and Lakers were looking to bash distant with their crown jewels.

The woody volition spot Doncic articulation forces with LeBron James, who is chasing his 5th NBA title, and his 2nd with the Lakers earlier helium calls clip connected his career. Davis, meanwhile, links up with Kyrie Irving successful Dallas. Both players person been deputies to LeBron successful the NBA: some duos won a NBA rubric each.

1. 01

   Who are Anthony Davis and Luka Doncic?

   Among players with astatine slightest 400 games, Doncic’s 28.6-point mean is 3rd successful NBA past down lone Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain — some astatine 30.1. When healthy, he’s typically determination betwixt dynamic and unstoppable.

   He was 3rd successful the MVP voting past play aft averaging 33.9 points, 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds per game, easy 1 of the top statistical seasons successful league history. Doncic — who turns 26 aboriginal this period and has referred to James arsenic an “idol” — had a 73-point crippled against Atlanta connected Jan. 26, 2024, tying the fourth-highest scoring full ever successful an NBA game. Only Chamberlain (100), Kobe Bryant (81) and Chamberlain (78) scored more.

   Davis, an All-Star prime this twelvemonth for the 10th clip successful his career, turns 32 adjacent month. He’s portion of the NBA’s 75th day team, helped the Lakers triumph the NBA rubric successful the bubble successful 2020, and — similar Doncic — is simply a five-time All-NBA selection.

   And for Doncic, determination could beryllium a monolithic — $115 cardinal — outgo to this trade.

   Doncic could person signed a supermax declaration this coming summer, 1 that could person paid him astir $345 cardinal implicit 5 seasons. He’s inactive extension-eligible, but apt cannot motion a five-year woody worthy much than $230 cardinal this summertime now.

   Doncic is averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists this season. Davis is averaging 25.7 points and 11.9 rebounds.

   (Via The Associated Press)

The Associated Press quoting a root connected information of anonymity reported that the Utah Jazz are besides progressive successful the deal.

ESPN, which archetypal reported the trade, said Jalen Hood-Schifino and 2 draught picks volition beryllium headed to the Jazz. The Dallas Morning News besides reported those details connected the trade.

The quality of the commercialized broke conscionable aft the Lakers bushed New York astatine Madison Square Garden. And portion Davis was not with the Lakers for the game, the authoritative quality was that helium had an abdominal wounded that needed assessing.

Doncic, meanwhile, has not played for Dallas since Christmas Day, erstwhile helium was sidelined with a strained near calf.

The woody was met with daze and awe successful the league. As the AP reported, the Phoenix vs Portland crippled inactive going connected successful the NBA connected Saturday nighttime erstwhile reports began swirling of the trade. When Suns defender Devin Booker was told astir the trade, helium archetypal thought Lakers had got Luka Garza, the Minnesota center.

“It’s crazy, man. I truly don’t cognize what to accidental astir it,” Booker said. “Luka being a feline that everybody has claimed is untouchable and untradeable. The NBA shows you again. Can’t predict. It’s a business. They’re ever having a speech astir you. So don’t deliberation you’re safer than you are.”

Added chap Suns prima Kevin Durant: “Insane. It’s crazy. Crazy. Damn, would of ne'er thought Luka Doncic would get traded. At his age, midseason, the NBA is simply a chaotic place, man. If helium tin get traded past anybody is up for grabs.”

And determination was contiguous daze connected societal media erstwhile the quality deed arsenic well.

“Luka getting traded from Dallas has to person a deeper communicative down it,” Cleveland halfway Tristan Thompson wrote connected X. “This conscionable doesn’t hap connected a random Saturday night.”

“Wait what?” posted Patrick Mahomes, the prima Kansas City backmost who sits courtside astatine Mavs games occasionally during the offseason, NBA playoffs included.

And Knicks defender Jalen Brunson wondered successful different station if it was a joke: “April fools right?” helium asked.