Luka Doncic is being traded by the reigning Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, a person with knowledge of the agreement said on Sunday (AEDT).
Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris are headed to the Lakers, while Davis and Max Christie are going to Dallas, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither team can announce the deal while it awaits league approval.
The Utah Jazz are also involved in the deal, said the source.
Luka Doncic. Getty
ESPN, which first reported the trade, said Jalen Hood-Schifino and two draft picks will be headed to the Jazz. The Dallas Morning News also reported those details on the trade.
It is an absolute blockbuster, with Doncic set to join LeBron James in Los Angeles, and Davis now headed to Dallas to partner with Kyrie Irving.
"I believe that defence wins championships,” Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison told ESPN.
“I believe that getting an All-Defensive centre and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future.”
The deal, at least for now, would pair Doncic with LeBron James as the new 1-2 punch in Los Angeles, while Davis would be forming a new star duo with Kyrie Irving in Dallas.
And there was immediate shock on social media when the news hit.
"Luka getting traded from Dallas has to have a deeper story behind it," Cleveland center Tristan Thompson wrote on X. "This just doesn't happen on a random Saturday night."
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson wondered in another post if it was a joke: "April fools right?" he asked.
Evidently not.
It's not clear when Doncic or Davis could play for their new clubs: the trade needs NBA approval, and both are dealing with injuries without any publicly known firm timetable for their returns.
