“WOWWWWW NO F WAY!”—Joel Embiid’s raw reaction captured what everyone was thinking when they heard about Luka Dončić heading to the Lakers. That’s the kind of trade that sends ripples through the entire league, (nay, the entire basketball community!) shaking up teams and fans alike. Devin Booker looked stunned, Jalen Brunson had his jaw on the floor, and even Paige Bueckers, the potential new face of Dallas, joined in on the conversation with her signature wit.

Poised to become the top pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Bueckers know a thing or two about game-changing moves. When asked about her new game-day look by a journalist, she blushed and cheekily replied, “See, the world woke up to Luka getting traded to the Lakers. So crazier things have happened.”

She added, “But, I mean, nah, this is like a one-time thing. My friend Kayla was sick. Jana got a little under the weather, so I think this is just a one-time thing.” Her playful banter masked a deeper acknowledgment of the seismic shift in Dallas.

The late-night blockbuster sent Luka, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris packing for Los Angeles, bringing Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick to Dallas. As the NBA grapples with this colossal change, Bueckers prepares to take her own leap into the professional world, possibly as Dallas’s new star.

But with Luka gone, the Mavericks’ future is uncertain, hinging on whether this trade was a masterstroke or a misfire.

Plum’s trade shakes up the WNBA—could it also rewrite Paige Bueckers’ future?

Meanwhile, the WNBA has seen its own shake-ups. Kelsey Plum’s recent move to the Los Angeles Sparks in a three-team deal with the Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm has left fans reeling. Aces star A’ja Wilson, whose jersey was retired on February 2nd, humorously compared the chaos, quipping, “NBA said ‘hold my beer’ to our free agency shenanigans 😂😂😂.”

Losing Plum—a key force behind the Aces’ 2024 semifinal run—was a gut punch to Wilson and Aces fans alike.

Although Plum, a two-time WNBA champion, expressed her excitement—“Joining the Sparks is an incredible honor…I’ll be doing everything I can to honor this history and add to it”—her trade might have set off a domino effect far beyond Los Angeles.

The real game-changer? Seattle’s quiet power move. By jumping from the No. 9 to the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Storm just put themselves in a position to shake up the future of Paige Bueckers. While the UConn phenom is projected as the No. 1 pick, destined for Dallas, whispers around the league suggest she might have other preferences.

With Luka Doncic gone and the Wings banking on their next franchise star, Dallas basketball is standing at a crossroads. Will Bueckers embrace the challenge, or could a draft-night surprise send her elsewhere? One thing’s for sure—this offseason is only getting started.