I feel sorry for those Mavs fans who slept early tonight ’cause when they wake up they won’t find Luka Doncic on the roster. It’s undoubtedly one of the wackiest things to happen in recent times. But why did this happen, though? The Slovenian star literally carried the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season alongside Kyrie Irving & Co.

Moreover, it’s been a month since the fans saw him on the court, dealing with a calf strain. Despite the injury, the superstar guard made it to the Mavs’ games, cheering from the sidelines. Notably, on one occasion, LukaMagic reached his spot with the help of a knee scooter, struggling to even rest his foot on the floor. It was indeed a reflection of his loyalty and commitment toward the team and mates. Above all, it made one thing very clear Luka didn’t influence the latest shocker.

Shams Charania shook the sporting world when he announced that the Lakers have traded in Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis. The first thing that popped into everyone’s mind was, ‘Is it real?’ Followed by the most important question ‘Why’. While we had heard whispers that AD had picked up a beef with the Lakers’ management, the reason behind Luka’s exit remained unknown until ESPN’s Tim MacMahon broke it.

ESPN guys are having a field day. Sorry, field night. MacMahon revealed Mavs’ GM, Nico Harrison’s unfazed words on the Luka Doncic trade. “I believe that defense wins championships… I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future,” said Harrison, blatantly criticizing Doncic’s defensive technique.

Well, the criticism of Luka’s defense isn’t anything new. But was it really worth it to give up on a playmaker like him? Let’s dig deeper.

Will Luka Doncic’s exit help the Mavs’ championship ambitions?

In the 2024 postseason, the Mavericks cruised past the first three rounds, winning the Western Conference title with ease. The team had a genuine issue when they faced the Boston Celtics in the Finals. While Kyrie Irving struggled to find his rhythm in TD Garden, the Celts’ locked defense put breaks on the Slovenian.

On the other hand, the star’s weak defensive efforts were exposed. On most occasions, the superstar was caught watching the Celtics’ offense walk past him to the bucket. Considering the poor defense, Anthony Davis is undoubtedly a timely addition. Moreover, AD can get to be a power forward with the Mavs, with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II consistently taking care of the rim.

However, there is one major setback, which is the star’s playmaking ability. Doncic has an insane ability to find his teammates amidst a horde of defenders. Moreover, McMahon added one more reason behind the trade, which was the star’s repeating injury situation. There isn’t a single season where he played without an injury pause. December 25, 2024, was the last game he played for the Mavs. Do these reasons make sense for the shocking trade? Let us know in the comments.