One of the most trades in NBA history has taken place, with the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks completing a deal that will change the face of the association. As a result of the trade, star guard Luka Doncic moved to the Lakers, joining LeBron James to form one of the most powerful duos in modern basketball history.
The deal involved multiple teams and components. The Mavericks received Anthony Davis, who will become the new leader of the Dallas team. In addition to Davis, Dallas also received draft picks from the Lakers. In exchange, Los Angeles sent not only Davis but also several young rotation players to the Mavericks.
This trade was made possible through a complex scheme involving a third team — the Chicago Bulls, which acted as an intermediary in the deal. They received additional assets for the future development of their team.
The combination of LeBron and Luka creates incredible expectations among Lakers fans. The team acquires two versatile players capable of creating their own scoring opportunities, orchestrating the game, and providing high-level defense. This gives the Lakers real chances to compete for the championship as early as next season.
For Dallas, this trade marks the beginning of a new era. Anthony Davis, with proper utilization of his potential, can become the foundation for building a competitive team for years to come.
Photo: Erik Drost/Flickr/CC BY 2.0, antdavis23/Instagram. Collage: Maxim Konankov