Due to the secretive nature of their trade talks with the Mavericks about Luka Doncic, the Lakers were unable to touch base with Doncic or his agent Bill Duffy during negotiations to get a sense of the guard’s appetite for a long-term future in Los Angeles, according to Fred Katz, Joe Vardon, and Sam Amick of The Athletic, who say that inability to get clarity on Doncic’s thinking was one reason why the Lakers weren’t willing to include their 2031 first-round pick in the trade along with their 2029 first-rounder.
The Mavericks didn’t aggressively push for that 2031 pick to be included, acquiescing to the Lakers’ desire to keep it out of the deal. Now that Doncic is officially a Laker, he’s “ecstatic” about being in Los Angeles and all indications are that he’ll welcome a long-term deal with the franchise, a league source tells Katz, Vardon, and Amick.
As excited as he is about becoming a Laker, a source close to the five-time All-Star tells The Athletic that Doncic had expected to be a Maverick for his entire NBA career. He said as much publicly in his social media statement thanking fans in Dallas, writing that he “wanted so badly to bring you a championship” (Instagram link).
“He wanted to be like Dirk (Nowitzki),” the source told The Athletic.
We have more on the Lakers:
- While LeBron James was shocked by the news of the trade, he wasn’t upset about it, according to one of the Athletic’s sources, who said James’ primary concern was about Anthony Davis‘ reaction to the deal. James understood that it was a “business decision” the Lakers needed to make to set themselves up for a future that will extend well beyond his retirement.
- Trading away Davis leaves the Lakers with a glaring need at center, but not many of the most popular names on the trade market appeal to them, league sources tell Katz, Vardon, and Amick. Now that the 2031 pick is their last remaining tradable first-rounder, the Lakers don’t want to give that asset away for a “patch-up role player,” The Athletic’s reporters add.
- On that subject, Brian Lewis of The New York Post said last week that the Lakers were keeping an eye on Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe, who will be eligible for restricted free agency at season’s end. It’s unclear if Sharpe is still a potential target for L.A., but he certainly shouldn’t cost a first-round pick.
- The Lakers won’t be eager to take on long-term salary in any subsequent trades, since they’re currently poised to have a good deal of cap flexibility in 2026, when several contracts come off their books, and could take advantage of that flexibility to go star-hunting, according to Katz, Vardon, and Amick.
Doesnt Vucevic still make sense for the Lakers?
The lakers need a rim protector, not a distributor. Hard to imagine them making a trade for a big that doesn’t improve their interior defense.
His defense is atrocious so I would say no
If you want 3 out of the 5 people in the starting line up not playing defense, then yes.
I feel so bad for Dallas fans I’ve never seen a community so heartbroken this suddenly
And if doncic seriously means what he says and that he would’ve stayed there like dirk… if I were Nico Harrison I would make sure no snipers are outside his bedroom window
Dude…it’s basketball. Relax.
Besides, I’d be more worried about fans in California. Remember that dodger fan? Or the raiders fan at the niners game? Or Danny green getting death threats for missing free throws? Only reason to be nervous is if Nico changes his last name to kennedy
I dunno… There’s a pretty fair amount of Mavs fans who are NOT taking the news well… Somebody needs to remind these folks that it IS basketball and they should relax…
link to sports.yahoo.com
I live 10 miles from Cypto.com, but have been a Mavs fan for the last several years because of Luka. I should be happy with the trade now that I can watch him play live regularly, but I am shocked and disappointed.
The Mavs finally put a decent team around him l, and I really felt strongly that once healthy the Mavs would go back to the finals with Luka.
Now Luka will have to suffer the Lakers putting a team around him that will take years. The good news is that it is easy to attract players to LA, do don’t be as hard as Dallas, even if the Lakers don’t have much trade assets.
They should trade LeBron for some assets though.
Unless LeBron wants to leave, they can’t trade him. Full No-Trade Clause. And unlike Bradley Beal, he’s earned it.
He did earn it at one point or he wouldn’t have it. Lol
The league will help in building the team around Luka. There will be another superstar that will fall onto their laps and everybody will be happy.
IMO
Mavs GM doesn’t care about team future after 2029
My prediction
He will be fired after 3 years
Without another big deal, Mavs won’t win the West
I have never seen so much overreaction over a trade in my life. Maybe just maybe the Mavs got tired of Luka diva ways.
Based on your avatar, I doubt you’d feel this way if the Phillies had traded away 26 year old Mike Schmidt after the 1976 season for say, 35 year old Pete Rose. Aging great player for a generational talent in his early prime. People are reacting so much because it’s a top 5 biggest trade of all time and came out of nowhere.
Tired of Luka “diva ways”??? Let’s not forget that Nico Harrison is the same guy who pissed off Jalen Brunson, by not giving him the contract extension he wanted, which was less than what the Knicks paid. Brunson just took an extension for millions less than he could have got, because he was happy and wanted to help. Brunson also happened to be Doncic’s best friend on the team.
Watch the Lakers try to re-acquire Zubac.
Going to take a king’s ransom for that, Lakers.
Sorry, no can do.
My formula
Equal trade value
Luka + Gafford = AD + Reaves + 2 unprotected Firsts
Kessler or bust.
I think they’re hot and heavy for Kessler. But, can they turn Reeves, Vincent (salary purposes), and first and a couple of seconds into Cameron and Claxton? Just a thought.
As a Nets fan, I feel confident that the front office wouldn’t take that deal. They want multiple firsts or equivalent for Johnson alone and would likely want the same for Claxton, although I haven’t heard a single bit of news regarding what they want for Clax. I think they’re trying to go the Thunder route and just stockpile firsts.
You’re not talking about sending a first if you’re including Reaves. The jazz are sending you draft compensation in that scenario.
Reaves is THE valuable chip the lakers have left to move. He’s not a throw in. Rui and that first, maybe some seconds, should get Kessler.
Booga who are you even replying to? That trade proposal was for players on the Nets roster.
As for the OP, your trade proposal doesn’t remotely work out salary wise.
“was one reason why the Lakers weren’t willing to include their 2031 first-round pick in the trade along with their 2029 first-rounder.”
The other reason is that Nico Harrison is bad at his job and didn’t insist upon receiving it. Are we to believe that the Lakers would have walked away from this deal over a first round pick six years away? lmao.
Kessler makes sense.
Check Nico Harrison’s bank activity, his house also. Gotta be a big bag of cash somewhere. Should’ve got the biggest haul in nba history. None of his reasoning and answers made sense in anyway.
His moves made sense right up until this offseason. Then he prioritized Klay over Jones Jr. He redeemed himself slightly by adding Naji Marshall and then he decided to drive off a cliff with this move.
Next move should be either Claxton from New Jersey, Williams from Portland, Batok from Memphis G League Capela from the hawks , one last pitch for Kessler from Utah. Only because Pelicans get out pick for this upcoming draft. Or just go best big available in the 2nd round. Gotta be some buyout bigs coming up, we already enough of them bums already.
Pelicans traded that pick to Atlanta