There’s a reason why “Luka Magic” became synonymous with Luka Doncic—he made the whole of Dallas dream again after their 2011 championship. But after falling to the Boston Celtics in last season’s NBA Finals, the franchise made a shocking move that no one saw coming. Their offseason strategy initially suggested a win-now mentality, bringing in Klay Thompson’s championship experience to bolster the roster. However, in a stunning turn of events, the Mavericks’ front office took an entirely different route—trading away their heart and soul, Luka Doncic.

“Time will tell if I’m right,” Mavericks GM Nico Harrison declared after the deal, signaling the uncertainty surrounding the decision. Now, with head coach Jason Kidd aligning with the front office’s vision, the Mavericks are moving forward into a new era without Doncic. The discussion surfaced following Dallas’ thrilling 127-120 victory over the Celtics on Thursday.

Speaking at the postgame press conference, Kidd reflected on last season’s NBA Finals loss, where the Mavericks fell short against Boston, “Boston was a better team, you know, for sure, and so going to the Finals was a great experience,” Kidd admitted. But it wasn’t just about learning from the loss—the Mavs knew they needed real improvements to take the next step.

“We felt, you know, we had to get better,” Kidd continued. “So we believe what we’re doing right now is part of that journey to get better, and this is just the start of that, so hopefully with the changes that we’ve made, that can lead us back here to the Finals and find a way to win.”

Losing Doncic is undeniably a massive blow, but the Mavericks made a bold attempt to compensate for the loss, by acquiring Anthony Davis and Max Christie. What initially seemed like a devastating trade for the fanbase, Kidd now sees as a step in the right direction. Whether this franchise-altering decision will lead the Mavs back to championship glory or push them into rebuilding mode remains to be seen.

Not only that, Kidd believes the trade will help them reach the finals again and, hopefully, secure a win this time. There’s still time for that, though. Before anything, the team needs to focus on improving their 27-25 record. On the flip side, Luka Doncic has already seemed to blend in with his new team and has reportedly been behind the Lakers’ first big decision after his move.

Luka Doncic reportedly assisted Lakers’ trade decision

Following the blockbuster trade, it was clear the Lakers needed a center, especially with Anthony Davis being a strong presence in the middle. His absence would leave a noticeable gap. So, they traded for Mark Williams. Hold on, let’s rewind a bit. It was believed to be Luka Doncic who supposedly informed the franchise about his preference for a vertical lob threat, which ultimately led to the move.

ESPN reporter Ramona Shelburne stated, “Lakers had been looking for a big but once they got Luka this week, they knew exactly what kind of big they wanted. From what I’ve heard, in Luka’s initial basketball conversations he told Lakers GM Rob Pelinka he played best when he had a vertical lob threat. When Charlotte called saying they liked Knecht and might be willing to discuss Mark Williams, the deal came into place.”

If Doncic truly had a say in the Lakers’ trade decision, it definitely shows that the team has a lot of confidence in him. Both the Lakers and Mavericks are optimistic about their trade, but it’ll be interesting to see which team actually benefits from it in the coming months. What are your views on this shocker of a trade? Let us know in the comment section below!