The Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks have reportedly completed a trade that will bring Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis to Dallas, according to ESPN.
According to the report from early on Sunday morning, the Lakers will receive Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, and the Mavericks will receive Max Christie and a 2029 first-round draft pick.
The Utah Jazz will acquire Jalen Hood-Schifino and a Los Angeles Clippers draft pick from the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round, according to ESPN reports. Mavericks are also sending a 2025 second-round selection to Jazz.
“I believe that defence wins championships”, Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison told ESPN. I think we have a better chance of getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset. We’re built to win now and in the future”.
The Mavericks offered the Lakers Doncic, and the Lakers reportedly believed that the five-time All-Star has what it takes to, someday, be the face of the franchise, per ESPN. For now, he will be playing alongside LeBron James, who is in his 22nd NBA season.
James was not informed that such a deal was coming, and Doncic, Davis, players and a number of coaches on both sides were also left in the dark, according to ESPN.
Both Doncic and Davis are currently sidelined due to injuries, as are Kleber and Hood-Schifino. Davis recently fell on Tuesday with an abdominal muscle strain, while Doncic hasn’t played since Christmas Day because of a strained left calf.
There is no set date for Doncic’s return, but when the 25-year-old first hit the shelf, the Mavericks said he would be re-evaluated in about one month. The next week’s re-evaluation will be for Davis.
Doncic has averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 22 games (all starts) this season. After being chosen by the Atlanta Hawks with the third overall pick in the 2018 draft, he was only selected for Dallas for his seven NBA seasons. The Mavericks were given the draft rights in exchange for Trae Young’s.
The 31-year-old Davis has put up averages of 25.7 points, 11.9 boards, 3.4 assists and 2.1 blocks across 42 games (all starts) during the 2024-25 campaign. He is a 10-time All-Star (including this season), five-time All-NBA selection and five-time All-Defensive Team selection.
Kleber, who turned 33 on Wednesday, is averaging 3.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists this season. He has appeared in 34 games (four starts).
Morris, 35, has come off the bench in seven games and is posting 1.7 points and 1.1 rebounds per contest.
In just two games, the 21-year-old Hood-Schifino has averaged 2.0 points.
The Lakers finished with a 28-19 record at the Western Conference’s fifth game of the day. In eighth place (22-22), the Mavericks finished three spots below them.
Source: Aljazeera
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