IN A STUNNING move ahead of NBA trade deadline, Los Angeles Lakers has acquired the services of veteran guard Luka Doncic while sending Anthony Davis to Dallas Mavericks.
In a blockbuster deal that was approved on late Saturday night (Sunday noon in the Philippines), Los Angeles received Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and former Lakers forward Markieff Morris.
The Mavericks, on the other hand, got Davis, Max Christie, and Lakers’ 2029 first round draft pick, while Utah Jazz received Jalen Hood-Schifino and Los Angeles Clippers and Mavericks’ 2025 second round picks.
Doncic, who has season averages of 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 22 games with the Mavericks, is expected to bolster the Lakers’ guard rotation while adding another superstar behind LeBron James.
The Slovenian star guard has been out of action since suffering a left calf strain during Dallas’ Christmas Day game against Minnesota Timberwolves but is reportedly to return to action before the NBA All-Star break.
Davis, who normed 25.7 points, 11.9 boards, 3.4 assists and 2.1 blocks across 42 games with the Lakers this season, will add strength to the Mavericks’ frontline as they aim for another championship run.
Davis, the No. 1 overall pick by New Orleans Pelicans in 2012, is also currently sidelined due to an abdominal muscle strain sustained during Lakers’ game against Philadelphia 76ers earlier this week.
This was the second trade conducted by the Lakers this season after earlier acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton from Brooklyn Nets in exchange for D’Angelo Russell and Maxwell Lewis.
Meanwhile, the Jazz also undergo a separate trade earlier in the day, sending Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills to the Clippers in exchange for reserve players PJ Tucker and Mo Bamba./PN
