The NBA is still adjusting to the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers while Anthony Davis and other assets were dealt to the Dallas Mavericks on Groundhog Day. This trade will have lasting effects across the league for years to come.

Many questions regarding the trade have been directed at the Dallas Mavericks, as it’s extremely rare to see a player in their mid-20s with multiple first-team All-NBA selections traded. However, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss offered insight into why the Lakers were willing to part ways with Anthony Davis.

Davis was enjoying an excellent season in Los Angeles, averaging nearly 26 points and 12 rebounds per game. The Lakers held a 28-19 record at the time of the trade and were 8-2 in their last 10 games. However, the chance to secure a young superstar like Doncic, who could lead the team for the next decade, was too valuable to ignore, especially with Davis nearing 32 years old.

Jeanie Buss, daughter of the late Jerry Buss and controlling owner of the Lakers, spoke on NPR on Wednesday, sharing revealing thoughts on the trade and Davis.

“We have lost the last three years in a row to the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs, and there was nothing significantly different heading into this year’s playoffs. Anthony Davis was unhappy with his role, and this deal gave both teams what they needed. They got what they wanted, and so did we.”

Davis has consistently expressed a preference to play power forward rather than center, a position the Lakers frequently used him in. Despite his frustrations, the Lakers would not have traded him if the opportunity to acquire Doncic hadn’t arisen. The timing and circumstances made the deal too perfect to pass up.

Although Davis has been relatively healthy in recent years, he couldn’t complete his first game with the Mavericks, aggravating an abdominal injury.