Luka to Lakers for AD

[Roy H.]

This is the rare trade that makes a team worse in the present and in the future, and which potentially carries a huge financial hit to the franchise.  That last part isn't being talked about, but I bet that this trade cost the team at least $100 million in valuation.  I bet that's wildly conservative, too.  The Mavs went from extremely marketable to just another playoff team.

I do like that we get to see Danny's vision of Kyrie + Davis come to life, though.  Now, just add a prime Hayward, a younger Horford and an up-and-coming Jaylen Brown, haha.

[Who]

Seeing many comments that during the press conference where Nico Harrison was explaining his reasoning for the trade ... that Jason Kidd was sitting next to him looking p---ed off at the deal.

Someone tell Nico Harrison that the greatest Mav ever, Dirk Nowitzki, didn't play ANY defense and delivered a championship against all odds.

Another good comment

[Who]

Has a player as good as Luka ever been traded before without first demanding a trade? Without his team being horrible? While being in his prime at 25yo.

I can't think of anything like this. Insane trade.

[RMO]

Has a player as good as Luka ever been traded before without first demanding a trade? Without his team being horrible? While being in his prime at 25yo.

I can't think of anything like this. Insane trade.

Not basketball but Wayne Gretzky?  He was a little older I think though still in his prime.  I don't follow hockey at all so I don't know if Edmonton was good at the time.

[Birdman]

Trade James to GS and get a third team involved but he wouldn?t waive his no trade clause..lakers not winning a title as long he?s there..maybe get Miami involved

[Who]

you trippin if you believe lebron didn't know. AD knew because they needed him to waive his trade kicker which means clutch knew and lebron definitely knew

[Donoghus]

The word "bag job" immediately came to mind when I saw the trade. 

Absolutely ridiculous and a total slap in the face of Maverick fans. 

[johnnygreen]

I believe Nico Harrison during his press conference mentioned that the Mavericks have a better chance to win a title in the next 3-4 years, which I agree with. However, no GM should be that short sited when you were gifted a generational player in Luca.

This trade may be the wakeup call Luca needed to finally take his conditioning seriously year round.

[Who]

Skip Bayless reaction:

He liked the Lakers as they were. They had 2 top 10 players in AD and LeBron. He liked them to come out of the West as they were. By doing this trade, they have just given up on their title run. They have traded away their present for the long term future. They get a future franchise player for the post-LeBron phase. But they gave up their title window to do it.

[SHAQATTACK]

How many teams has Kyrie broken up now?

LOL??.hey he is going to be the THE LEADER , like he said he was for Boston ?..we ? ll see .

I think Mavs will be better for 2-3 years , but I wouldn?t build a straw hut around Kyrie Irving , he is always a disaster , disappointing and dissatisfied at every turn.

[Vermont Green]

I believe Nico Harrison during his press conference mentioned that the Mavericks have a better chance to win a title in the next 3-4 years, which I agree with. However, no GM should be that short sited when you were gifted a generational player in Luca.

This trade may be the wakeup call Luca needed to finally take his conditioning seriously year round.

Not sure how that adds up.  Luka took a lesser DAL team to the finals last season.  Davis didn't do much at all with a LAL team that included LeBron.  So now Davis is going to take the Mavs farther than Luka did?  I don't see it.  I like Davis, I think he is underrated some.  When healthy and at his best, he is a top player, but can't carry a team all by himself.  When Luka is healthy and at his best, which last season I don't think he necessarily was at his absolute best, he can carry a team by himself.

I see the question as who is going to be healthier or closer to their best.  If Luka is fat and injured all season, than maybe Davis is better, if he can stay healthy.  Last season, Luka was a little fat and a little injured and he still was able to carry a pretty limited team to the finals.  I don't see DAL, even with a healthy Davis making the finals.

[Who]

Tim Legler reaction

"Shocked doesn't begin to describe the way I feel about this trade. I'll put it this way: I am more shocked about this trade than I have been about any trade, in any sport, at any time, EVER!"

Same here.

[Donoghus]

Funny how these trades go.

Paul Hembekides (Hembo)
@PaulHembo
These pennies-on-the-dollar returns are WILD...

1968: Lakers acquire 31-year-old Wilt Chamberlain for Jerry Chambers, Archie Clark and Darrall Imhoff

1975: Lakers acquire 28-year-old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for Junior Bridgeman, Dave Meyers, Elmore Smith and Brian Winters

1996: Lakers acquire 17-year-old Kobe Bryant for Vlade Divac

2008: Lakers acquire 27-year-old Pau Gasol for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Marc Gasol, Aaron McKie and two 1st-round picks

2025: Lakers acquire 25-year-old Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 1st-round pick and 2nd-round pick

[Vermont Green]

Funny how these trades go.

Paul Hembekides (Hembo)
@PaulHembo
These pennies-on-the-dollar returns are WILD...

1968: Lakers acquire 31-year-old Wilt Chamberlain for Jerry Chambers, Archie Clark and Darrall Imhoff

1975: Lakers acquire 28-year-old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for Junior Bridgeman, Dave Meyers, Elmore Smith and Brian Winters

1996: Lakers acquire 17-year-old Kobe Bryant for Vlade Divac

2008: Lakers acquire 27-year-old Pau Gasol for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Marc Gasol, Aaron McKie and two 1st-round picks

2025: Lakers acquire 25-year-old Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 1st-round pick and 2nd-round pick

the 2008 trade is interesting in that it involved brothers.  The return for MEM at the time looked scant but Marc Gasol ended up being a pretty good player.  I don't recall how the 2 first turned out. 

But yeah, the Lakers have been gifted some pretty lopsided trades over the years.  This one does top them all though.

[Celtics2021]

Funny how these trades go.

Paul Hembekides (Hembo)
@PaulHembo
These pennies-on-the-dollar returns are WILD...

1968: Lakers acquire 31-year-old Wilt Chamberlain for Jerry Chambers, Archie Clark and Darrall Imhoff

1975: Lakers acquire 28-year-old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for Junior Bridgeman, Dave Meyers, Elmore Smith and Brian Winters

1996: Lakers acquire 17-year-old Kobe Bryant for Vlade Divac

2008: Lakers acquire 27-year-old Pau Gasol for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Marc Gasol, Aaron McKie and two 1st-round picks

2025: Lakers acquire 25-year-old Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 1st-round pick and 2nd-round pick

I would put the Gasol trade in a separate bucket.  Marc Gasol was an immediate starter to the Grizzlies when he came over the following season, and wound up a multi-time All-Star/All-NBA player and DPOY.  He may not have been known to US audiences, but he was the MVP in Spain the season he was traded, and obviously there was a prior comp in his brother at people able to make the jump from Spain the the NBA.  That trade worked fine for both sides.

Not all trades work out like they?re supposed to.  Not on the list is the Dwight Howard trade, which brought with it a lot of outcry as well. Perhaps Luka will not like LA/LeBron and leave in a year.  Or perhaps he will like LA too much and the commitment to conditioning/basketball will continue to waiver at times due to the other opportunities LA offers.  Unlikely, but certainly not impossible from a historical perspective.