The NBA world is still in disbelief over the Los Angeles Lakers’ stunning acquisition of Luka Doncic before the trade deadline. The shocking part? The Dallas Mavericks gave up one of the league’s premier superstars for a puzzlingly light return: Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a single first-round draft pick. Austin Reaves wasn’t even part of the package. For the Lakers, this trade was a clear win — a true heist by general manager Rob Pelinka at the expense of Nico Harrison and the Mavericks.
Even though Dallas eventually landed the No. 1 overall pick and selected generational talent Cooper Flagg, that lottery miracle doesn’t erase the disastrous decision-making that led to Doncic’s departure. It’s important to note that the pick used to draft Flagg wasn’t acquired from the Lakers. Instead, the Mavericks plummeted in the standings after trading Luka, slipping into the lottery on the back of a late-season collapse. With only a 1.8% chance to secure the top pick, Dallas defied the odds — but luck doesn’t justify failure.
Flagg may become a superstar, but that doesn’t absolve Harrison for executing one of the most lopsided trades in recent memory. Doncic, just 26 years old and already a top-five player in the league, was shipped out for a return that doesn’t remotely match his value. Anthony Davis, while still a star, is aging and more injury-prone than ever. Max Christie is a developmental piece at best. One first-round pick? It’s laughable when compared to the hauls other teams have secured for superstars — just look at what Phoenix gave up for Kevin Durant.
The core issue wasn’t just the undervaluation of Doncic. It was the fact that Harrison seemingly didn’t shop him around the league to generate a bidding war. Reports suggest he fixated on acquiring Anthony Davis and made the deal hastily, without maximizing the Mavericks’ leverage. That miscalculation is one Dallas fans will be forced to live with for years.
Making matters worse, this wasn’t Harrison’s only questionable move. His earlier trade for Quentin Grimes fell flat, limiting the team’s flexibility when injuries piled up. The overpayment for PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford also aged poorly. While the Mavericks’ 2024 Finals run helped cover up those mistakes temporarily, the long-term consequences are now becoming clear in the post-Luka era.
Kyrie Irving’s uncertain health status for next season, combined with an unbalanced roster heavy on big men but thin on playmakers, further complicates Dallas’s future. The Mavericks currently hold just three tradeable first-round picks — a thin margin for error in an era where draft capital is crucial. With Davis and Irving both aging, the clock is ticking, and the margin for building a contender around Flagg is razor-thin.
In contrast, the Lakers are sitting pretty. With Luka Doncic now wearing purple and gold, they’ve secured a franchise cornerstone who could keep them in title contention for the next decade. For the Mavericks, however, the aftermath of the Doncic trade remains a dark cloud. Cooper Flagg may be a beacon of hope, but Nico Harrison’s handling of the situation has left Dallas fans with a bitter taste — and a long list of “what ifs.”
As the league watches what comes next, one thing is clear: the Lakers won this trade in every sense. And for now, all they can do is smile, while Dallas continues to deal with the fallout.