You can’t have any preferences for whom to trade if you’re not on the team. The Lakers have been at the forefront of trade rumors. While grabbing a big-name player would be a huge win for the Lakers, let’s not forget about their role players. These guys often fly under the radar, but they can step up in major ways. Well, this was the general sentiment as it felt like Rob Pelinka would never make a trade even after Anthony Davis’ public outcry for a center.

While the Lakers had been fixated on bringing in a center, let’s not forget they have lacked playmaking since D’Angelo Russell’s departure. Shake Milton and Bronny James on ball-handling duties? We all saw how that went against the Sixers. Looks like they got a guard but they lost a center.

In one of the most jaw-dropping moves in recent memory, the Lakers are sending Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks.

In exchange, they’re bringing in Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris, as reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. And it doesn’t stop there—the Utah Jazz will also get Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2025 second-round pick from the Clippers, and another second-round pick from Dallas.

Apparently the Mavericks approached the Lakers with an offer to trade Luka Doncic, sources say. Maybe leading them to a finals isn’t enough. The Lakers, being the iconic team they are decided to get a iconic star for the next decade. What led Dallas to trade him? His conditioning issues. Plus the Mavs weren’t ready for the looming supermax contract extension this summer, according to sources shared with ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.

Even the Lakers weren’t too happy with AD.

A rift was forming between Anthony Davis and the Lakers

After the trade hit the headlines, more info about what drove the teams to make the move came to light. Word is, a rift between AD and the Lakers had been brewing, and that friction played a huge role in this massive deal going down. Feels like the kind of behind-the-scenes drama you can only find in Hollywood, right? No surprise, it happened in LA.

Sources, including NBA reporter Brett Siegel, revealed there’s been some serious tension between Davis and Lakers management recently. That growing divide pushed the Lakers to swap Davis for another elite player in a move that shook the league. The Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison broke his silence on the matter.

He said, “I firmly believe defense wins championships. Adding an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mentality gives us a real shot at competing. We’re not just focused on the present but on building for the future too.” The Mavs’ defense is about to level up with Davis on board. They’re ranked No. 12 in defensive rating right now, but with him anchoring the paint, that number could skyrocket.

Talk about a bold move! Which franchise do you think will be the winner of this trade? Will Luka and LeBron be a deadly duo? Or will Davis get a shot at another ring before the Lakers?