DHJ Quick Take
- Shock and Disbelief: Anthony Davis thought the Luka Dončić trade was a prank. Once he knew it was real, Davis was in complete shock.
- Lack of Communication: Davis expressed frustration with the Los Angeles Lakers‘ front office, specifically Rob Pelinka, for the lack of transparency.
- The Emotional Toll: Reflecting on his time in Los Angeles, Davis described the move as “emotional” and “business-cold.”
In a wide-ranging conversation with Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, Anthony Davis talked about the Los Angeles Lakers trading him to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Dončić last season.
Davis thought the trade was initially a prank.
The Dončić trade was orchestrated by Nico Harrison, who targeted Davis. The Mavericks fired Harrison earlier this season and traded Davis to the Washington Wizards at the trade deadline.
Davis appeared in only 29 games with Dallas. He averaged 20.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.8 blocks per contest. The future Hall of Famer will not play for the Wizards this season because of ligament damage in his left hand.
A top 75 player of all time, Davis has played for the New Orleans Pelicans, Lakers and Mavericks. He’s a 10-time All-Star and one-time NBA champion with career averages of 24.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.3 blocks per game.
Davis is making $54.1 million this season. He’s eligible for a four-year, $275 million extension in August. The Wizards acquired Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks before trading for Davis. It will be intriguing to see if Davis remains on Washington’s roster or gets traded or bought out this offseason.
The Dončić trade is considered the worst trade in NBA history. Dallas missed the playoffs last season and will miss them again this season.
Meanwhile, Dončić leads the league in points and points per game. He’s currently in Spain receiving an injection in his injured left hamstring to promote healing and expedite his return to the court, per ESPN.
Dončić, who guided the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024, appeared in 422 games with Dallas. He averaged 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game and made five All-Star teams and five All-NBA teams.
Dallas certainly got fortunate by winning the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery after trading Dončić to the Lakers. The franchise selected Cooper Flagg, who looks like a future superstar. The Mavericks are surely looking forward to Flagg playing with Kyrie Irving next season. Irving isn’t playing this season because of the left ACL injury he suffered last season against the Sacramento Kings.
Latest Dallas Mavericks News & Rumors On Dallas Hoops Journal
- ‘My Favorite from This Year’: Cooper Flagg Silences Chants With Poster Dunk Over Brook Lopez
- ‘The Process Is There’: Dallas Mavericks Trust Offensive Blueprint Despite Frigid Shooting In Los Angeles
- Jason Kidd Says Naji Marshall’s Status Against Phoenix Suns ‘Will Depend On How He Feels’ After Hip Contusion
- ‘It Brought Me Back to My High School Days’: Cooper Flagg Quiets ‘The Wall’ As Dallas Mavericks Fall To Los Angeles Clippers
- ‘That’s What Paul Silas Did For Me’: LeBron James Draws Parallel Between His Rookie Role And Cooper Flagg’s
