Nate's Blog

Luka to the Lakers, Davis to the Mavericks

Just after midnight on February 2nd, just a few days prior to the trade deadline, Shams Charania shared:

What does this mean for the Lakers and Mavericks? I share some thoughts below.

Lakers

Since winning the 2020 championship, the Lakers have been a solid contender; however, for Rob Pelinka, the reality is setting in that this Lakers era is coming to an end. Despite LeBron’s efficient shooting and his threat as a downhill scorer, his defense has taken a major hit. Combine that with his string of minor injuries since landing in L.A. and his status as the NBA’s oldest player, and there are concerns to be had with LeBron James. Anthony Davis’s availability leaves much to be desired (“day-to-day” Davis) and is an aging star in his own respect. Following the Bubble year, Davis has not taken the leap as the bona fide first option and leader of the Lakers that many expected. Their championship window has begun to close.

As a team in the twilight days of “win-now” mode, the Lakers future was in jeopardy prior to the trade. They were without an obvious successor to LeBron James as the leader in Los Angeles. Their young talent, while solid, does not have an obvious future all-star or all-NBA level talent (perhaps barring some Austin Reeves bright spots). Additionally, their draft asset situation could best be described as grim: just four picks in the next five years.

Trading for Luka Doncic brings an exciting star to L.A. He already boasts an impressive resume: a five time all-NBA player with a finals appearance at just 25 years old. Importantly, it indicates that Pelinka has a vision for his team in the post-LeBron-era Lakers. This, however, is not to say that this deal is perfect for the Lakers. Questions remain about how LeBron and Luka will work on court together in the short term – two high-usage players who have been primary scorers and facilitators on their respective teams. Both players are below-average defenders, and trading away your All-Defensive first team rim-protector certainly doesn’t help that end of the floor. Looking toward the future, giving the Mavericks a first round pick leaves the Lakers with just three picks through 2029: their 2025 second rounder, their 2026 first, and their 2028 first.

All this being said, the Lakers have reason to be excited about their future, assuming they opt to resign Luka after next season which is, of course, not a guarantee. Luka offers a sensible replacement to LeBron – a high usage, volume scoring, facilitating leader.

Mavericks

With the addition of Anthony Davis, Dallas now has one of the most talented defensive front courts in the league. AD brings some additional offense to the Mavs’ frontcourt which has been fairly lackluster this year. Davis, who has expressed the Lakers’ need to add a true center, now fills the shoes of a PF again next to Gafford and Lively at the five.

Luka Doncic’s poor defense has been a concern for Nico Harrison and the Mavericks front office. The acquisition of Anthony Davis will immediately strengthen the Dallas’s defense. Additionally, AD will be able to create offense in the paint in a way Gafford, Washington, and Lively have been less capable of this year.

With that being said, this move is utterly shocking. Doncic averaged 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists in the playoffs and took the Mavericks to their third ever finals appearance just last year. At 25 years old, Luka has five all-NBA first team appearances – more than Steph Curry and Kevin Garnett already. It is hard to view this trade as anything but a massive blunder by the Mavericks FO.

In defense of Harrison et. al, perhaps there is more risk in acquiring Doncic than we think? Could it be related to his attitude? In 70 games last year, Luka racked up 13 technical fouls, good for the third most in the NBA. Doncic is constantly arguing with officials about calls. Are Luka’s weight concerns more significant than we observe? At 275 pounds, Luka is the seventh heaviest player in the league at just 6’7. Could his weight-gain be emblematic of Luka’s aforementioned attitude? Alternatively, maybe Luka’s injury – a calf strain that has sidelined him since late December – is worse than we thought. Given his weight, perhaps Harrison believes that this injury premeditates something more significant problem. Some even speculate that Luka has a drinking problem (see this awkward interaction between Luka Doncic and Michael Finley after their 2024 finals berth).

The fact is that the Mavericks, for some reason or another, were not comfortable extending Luka to the five-year, $345 million supermax in the 2025 offseason. Nico Harrison’s move was bold and unexpected. It has rocked the Mavericks fan-base, with some holding funerals for the team’s future and renting “sell the team” billboards around Dallas. Who knows though? Maybe the addition of Anthony Davis will make the Mavs immediate contenders in the West. Perhaps Doncic’s weight and attitude concerns are significant enough to warrant his departure from Dallas.

The Big Picture

Right now, it feels like the Lakers got away with one. Only giving up Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and one first round pick feels like a steal for a proven star like Luka. Combine that with rumors that the original trade involved the Lakers giving up more draft assets and Dalton Knecht, one can’t help but feel that the Mavs got screwed.

What’s next for each team?

For the Mavericks, it will be adjusting the offense to operate without Luka. Kyrie will likely move to point guard, playing alongside some combination of Washington, Davis, Klay, and Gafford / Lively. Doncic has led the league in USG% three times in his six years in the league: how does Kidd plan to fill the shoes of Luka? There will be some growing pains in adjusting this roster in the post-Luka era.

For the Lakers, similar adjustments must be made. How do you balance the similar playstyles of Luka and LeBron? Who will be the primary facilitator in the offense? Who will step up to compensate for Luka and LeBron’s poor defense? These are big questions for Los Angeles. The Lakers also need to figure out their big man situation. Jaxson Hayes has averaged just 17 minutes per game this season. Will he be able to take the step to be their starting center? They need to prioritize a rim-protecting lob threat (some have suggested targeting Nic Claxton or Robert Williams). The Lakers must also soul-search and determine how LeBron fits into a Luka-led Lakers team of the future, given his ’25-’26 player option.

Who won? Who lost? Time will only tell.

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Comments

One response to “Luka to the Lakers, Davis to the Mavericks”

  1. Gabriel Melton Avatar
    Gabriel Melton

    The Lakers are going to get bounced in the first round of the playoffs because LeBron is a bum

    Reply

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