Mavericks GM embraces risk of Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade

The NBA world continued sifting through the many layers of aftershock Sunday over the blockbuster trade that somehow sent the Lakers their next in a long line of generational superstars — guard Luka Doncic to team with LeBron James.

How in the name of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron did this happen again?

The three-team deal that saw perennial All-Star big man Anthony Davis and a first-round pick headed to the Mavericks with other players also changing teams, caught everyone off guard when ESPN’s Shams Charania first broke the news of the megaswap just after midnight Sunday morning.

Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison stunningly admitted in a news conference that he didn’t talk to any NBA teams other than the Lakers about dealing Doncic, a five-time All-Star averaging 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists over seven NBA seasons. The Athletic later reported that another team was approached by the Mavericks about Doncic.

“I understand why [everyone] would be shocked, initially, but I do believe that we positioned ourselves to win now and also win in the future,” Harrison said. “And that’s ultimately the goal and why we’re here. It’s one of those things where it’s my job to make the tough decisions that put our goals first and foremost.

“So I understand the magnitude of it, but the easiest thing for me to do is do nothing and everyone would praise me for doing nothing. But we really believe in it and time will tell if I’m right.”

According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the Mavericks had “major concerns” about the 25-year-old Doncic’s conditioning and lifestyle hindering his ability to fulfill his potential.

Dallas also was worried enough that “they were terrified” about signing Doncic to a five-year, $345 million supermax contract extension, MacMahon reported. Doncic, who hasn’t played since Christmas due to a calf injury, now is ineligible for the supermax and only can be offered a five-year deal worth $229 million by the Lakers.

The 31-year-old Davis, a 10-time All-Star who won an NBA title alongside James in 2020 among his five seasons with the Lakers, waived his $5.9 million trade kicker to join up with Kyrie Irving in Dallas. Davis has a previous relationship with Harrison, a former Nike executive.

“If you pair [Davis] with Kyrie and the rest of the guys, he fits with our time frame to win now and in the future,” Harrison said. “The future to me is three, four years from now. Ten years from now, I don’t know. They’ll probably bury me and J [Kidd] by then. Or we bury ourselves.”

Of course, neither Davis nor Irving were in uniform for Sunday’s game against the league-leading Cavaliers, and the Mavericks got walloped 144-101, allowing 91 points to Cleveland in the first half alone.

Interestingly, Harrison acknowledged that Mavericks coach Jason Kidd was not made aware of the Doncic discussions with Lakers GM Rob Pelinka.

“Let’s be clear: I’m the one making the decision and J [Kidd] is supportive of it,” Harrison said.

“As Nico brought up, we are aligned,” Kidd said, before adding that he felt “blessed” to coach a player of Doncic’s caliber. “But when you look at the vision of the team and what Nico wants to build, I truly support that.”

Dallas also received Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick in the swap, with Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris also headed to the Lakers. As part of the deal, the Jazz also acquired Jalen Hood-Schifino from the Lakers and two 2025 second-round picks.

James, meanwhile, reportedly was caught “off guard,” according to ESPN, when he learned of the trade early Sunday morning while at dinner with family in New York following a 33-point triple-double performance in Saturday’s win over the Knicks at the Garden.

The 40-year-old James, whose son Bronny is a rookie teammate on the Lakers, intends to remain with the team through Thursday’s trade deadline, NBA insider Chris Haynes reported.

Even once the four-time MVP finally calls it a career, Doncic incredibly will already be in place as the franchise’s next generational star.

“Sports are about transformative moments,” Pelinka said. “We are inspired by these moments Lakers fans know, expect and love with a franchise that continually ushers in new eras of greatness.

“Luka is a one-of-a-kind, young global superstar who will lead this franchise for years to come. His killer instincts and commitment to winning championships will be a driving force for the team.”