The NBA has always been filled with interesting and game-changing trades that change the course of the league. Over the years, teams have made massive moves to bring in players that will increase the team’s chance of winning a championship. From Shaquille O’Neal to Kevin Durant, one trade can completely shift a team’s future. However, nothing comes close to the trade that just shook the basketball world — the trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks involving two of the league’s biggest stars, Luka Dončić and Anthony Davis.
Dončić, an NBA player in the Western Conference, is now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Standing a 6’7”, he plays the point guard position and has averaged 27.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game throughout his career. Born in 1999, Dončić is 26 years old. Unlike many NBA players, he never attended college. Instead, he played professionally in the EuroLeague before joining the Real Madrid Youth Academy. At 19 years old, he declared for the 2018 NBA Draft and was selected third overall by the Atlanta Hawks. However, he was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Trae Young and a 2019 first-round pick. In his rookie season, he put up numbers averaging 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7 assists, which earned him the Rookie of the Year award. Dončić played for the Mavericks from the 2018-19 season up until the 2024-25 season, when he was sent to the Lakers in one of the biggest trades in NBA history.
On the other side of the deal, is Davis, a 6’10” power forward, a former member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Davis has averaged 25.7 points, 12 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in his career. Born in 1993, the 31 year old played college basketball at Kentucky, where he led his team to a National Collegiate Athletic Association championship. He was in the 2012 NBA Draft at just 19 years old and was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans. In his rookie season, he averaged 13.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks, finishing second in Rookie of the Year. After spending seven seasons with the Pelicans, he was traded to the Lakers in 2019, where he helped them win an NBA championship. He remained with the Lakers for six years before the 2025 trade that sent him to the Mavericks.
NBA fans were stunned when the trade was officially announced on Feb. 2. Dončić had been seen as the future of the Mavericks. The Lakers gave up Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick to the Mavericks, along with sending Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2025 second-round pick to the Jazz. In return, the Mavericks sent Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Lakers, while also giving a 2025 second-round pick to the Utah Jazz.
Fans debated the trade, with some believing the Lakers got the better end of the deal, while others argued the Mavericks made the right decision.
“Overall [Davis is] a playmaker and he’s better on the court and has more experience,” Nasir Makalena said.
The new duos like Lebron James, Dončić, Davis and Kyrie Irving have the whole NBA on their heels but what’s next for these teams and the actual NBA? For the Lakers, their star James is retiring soon but with the new addition of Dončić, the Lakers are expected to let go of Lebron and build their team fully around Dončić. Currently, the Lakers are fourth in the Western Conference winning 32 out of 51 games.
The Mavericks, on the other hand, aren’t focusing on their future but rather are trying to win the current championship right now by acquiring the powerhouse Davis to be paired with Kyrie Irving. The Dallas Mavericks are currently eight in the Western Conference winning 28 out of 54 games and have a long way to go to try and win that championship. Both teams made massive trades but time will tell to see who actually won the biggest trade in NBA history.
With this trade, both teams are setting up for different futures. The Lakers, currently fourth in the While LeBron is expected to retire soon, Dončić gives the Lakers a young superstar to build around for years to come.
“The Lakers [have a better future] because they have more to rely on,” Aubriella Burket said, “[Dončić] is on his way to becoming a legacy.”
Meanwhile, the Mavericks sit in eighth place in the West with a 28-26 record. By getting Davis, they now have a dominant frontcourt to pair with Irving. This trade shows that Dallas is focusing on immediate success rather than long-term achievements.
The debate over who won the trade is ongoing. Some believe Dončić’s youth and offense make the Lakers the clear winner, while others argue that Davis’ experience and defensive skills give the Mavericks the advantage.
“I think [Dončić is] better because he’s much younger,” German Ignatenko said.
Both teams made bold moves that will shape the league for years. Whether Dončić leads the Lakers to their next championship or Davis helps the Mavericks rise, this trade will be remembered as one of the most shocking in basketball history.
by MATVEY YAZKOV & JACOB CASETTA
