Five Questions After Surprising Luka Doncic–Anthony Davis Trade

Analyzing the key on-court questions for the Lakers and Mavericks to assess if either team is closer to a championship.

Doncic smiles during his introductory press conference with the Lakers on Tuesday.

As the shockwaves settle from one of the most surprising trades in NBA history—the Dallas Mavericks trading Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick—numerous questions remain to fully understand the monumental impact of such a huge deal.

The most obvious question is: Why? Why would the Mavericks trade away a 25-year-old player who consistently averages a triple-double and has five All-NBA first-team selections? If the decision was inevitable, why didn’t Dallas shop him around to at least improve the Lakers’ trade offer or seek a better return? Why did general manager Nico Harrison make this move without any indication from Doncic that he wanted to leave Dallas? (Doncic confirmed this during his introductory news conference on Tuesday.)

Some answers have emerged—the Mavs’ frustration with Doncic’s conditioning being the leading one. However, more pressing questions about the teams’ on-court prospects need to be addressed.

Are the Mavericks now stronger contenders for a championship? Harrison has repeatedly stated that the trade was made with the aim of securing an NBA championship—something he believes requires solid defense, which is why he was eager to bring in Davis in exchange for the Mavericks’ star. This leads to the key question in Dallas now: Are the Mavericks in a better position to win a championship right now?

It’s difficult to argue that they are. The roster is now more well-rounded. Davis has been performing at an elite level, averaging 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. His defensive contributions are even more impressive—he’s blocking 8.4 shots per game, and opponents are shooting 8% worse than average when facing him. The Mavericks rank 12th in the league in defensive rating, but with Davis on the floor, their defense is expected to rise into the top-10. However, the team now has only one weak defender in Kyrie Irving, leaving the starting lineup more balanced defensively.

But in achieving this balance, the Mavericks have sacrificed their margin for error. With Doncic, Dallas only needed to make the playoffs to have a chance at a deep run. Now, without him, their margin for error is much smaller. The Mavericks must rely on Irving and Davis—both known for being injury-prone—to stay healthy through the playoffs. They’ll also need Thompson to avoid another disastrous performance like his last 0-for-10 showing with the Warriors. Additionally, they must hope that role players, used to playing with Doncic, can quickly adjust to the new Irving-Davis dynamic.

With Doncic, the Mavs only needed a few favorable breaks to have a shot at a championship. Now, they need everything to go their way, meaning they’re not in a better position than before.

How will the Lakers manage dual timelines with LeBron and Luka? Although the Lakers pulled off a major deal, they may have weakened their immediate prospects. L.A. ranked 21st in defensive rating before Tuesday’s game, and now they’ve lost a Defensive Player of the Year candidate who frequently bailed out his teammates defensively. Watching Doncic and LeBron James play together will be exciting, and their offensive brilliance should keep the Lakers competitive. However, envisioning another deep postseason run is harder now without Davis protecting the paint.

The Lakers now find themselves balancing two timelines. One focuses on James, with the expectation that the Lakers will aim for a final title during his tenure by going all-in on trades soon. The other centers on Doncic, where the Lakers will need to look beyond this season to properly build a team around a generational talent without sacrificing everything for short-term success.

This dual-focus will be intriguing to watch. Both James and Doncic thrive when surrounded by players who fit two key roles: sharp-shooting wings and agile centers. However, finding players who can help the Lakers win in James’ final years while also being suitable for Doncic’s long-term future will be a tough task.