What happened early on Sunday, Feb. 2, was the craziest trade in American sports history. The Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Utah Jazz completed a three-team trade.

The Lakers received Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris from the Mavericks. Dallas received Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick. The Jazz received Jalen Hood-Schifino, the LA Clippers’ 2025 second-round pick and the Mavericks’ 2025 second-round pick. According to ESPN, this is the first time two All NBA players were traded for one another mid season.

About the trade

This news was delivered by ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Chariana on Sunday at 12:12 AM EST on X.

This trade was so shocking that many questioned if Chariana had been hacked. In fact, he had to restate himself in a Tweet four minutes later saying, “Yes, this is real.”

This trade put the NBA landscape into shock. Nobody thought that the Mavericks would trade their 25 year old generational player, who is about to enter his prime. Doncic is coming off the best season of his career. He averaged nearly a triple-double and led his team to the NBA Finals; yet, the Mavericks decided to trade him away. 

When Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison called Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka with the idea of trading Doncic, Pelinka hung up because he thought it was a prank call. Harrison later showed up to Pelinka’s mansion, showing that he was serious.

The reason the Mavericks traded Doncic was that he had reached up to 270 pounds, which hurt his conditioning. They were also concerned about his work ethic. The Mavericks no longer viewed him as their franchise building block of the future.

This trade is unique because it wasn’t talked about at all. Usually before a trade occurs, there are rumors about the player wanting out or the organization wanting to part ways. None of the players involved had any idea this was going to happen nor did any team executives around the league. 

Many around the league are not only stunned at the trade, but stunned that the Mavericks didn’t publicly announce that they were looking to trade Doncic. Some argue that if they did, it would have created the greatest “bidding war” across American sports.

Impact of trade on both teams

So, where do both teams go from here? 

The Lakers have a generational duo in Lebron James and Luka Doncic, and they are set up for the future, as Luka Doncic has another 10-15 years left in the league. Some are questioning if James will leave and send the Lakers into a full reset mode, but James shut that idea down on Sunday afternoon, stating that he intends to remain a member of the Lakers past the trade deadline. This creates an issue with the Lakers’ frontcourt presence. The Lakers were in need of a center before this trade and are in dire need for one now. Right now, their centers are Jaxson Hayes and Trey Jemison III. Even with LeBron and Luka, having Hayes and Jemison III will not win a championship.

For the Dallas Mavericks, this trade keeps them in a win-now mode. They have good talent with Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and newly acquired Anthony Davis, but there is simply no replacing Luka Doncic. However, the Mavs did acquire Max Christie, who will provide depth at the guard position. They also managed to hold onto their center duo of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, even with the Lakers in desperate need of a center. 

My Outlook for the Rest of the Season

I think the Lakers won this trade, and it’s not close. I think the Mavericks’ reasoning for dealing Doncic was poor. I don’t care how much he weighs; how on earth do you not view someone averaging 33 points, nine rebounds and nine assists as a building block for your franchise? An anonymous NBA executive was asked what he would give up for Doncic, and his answer was, “everything.” The fact that Harrison reached out to the Lakers and only the Lakers is just baffling to me. In my opinion, if they had reached out to more teams, someone would have offered at least five first round picks and multiple players just for Doncic alone. The fact that Harrison didn’t do that leaves me questioning why he still has a job.

Biggest acquisition in Sports History?

My opinion: yes. I know we have seen other trades and signings, but I don’t think there is anything that comes close to this.

Some acquisitions that I believe shook the world of sports are listed below.

• Babe Ruth being traded to the Yankees in 1919
• Wayne Gretzky being traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988
• Shaquille O’Neal being traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant and a future first-round pick in 2004
• The Kansas City Chiefs trading their 27th pick and two more to the Buffalo Bills to receive pick No.10, selecting Patrick Mahomes in 2017
• Atlanta Hawks selecting Luka Doncic third overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, but trading him to the Dallas Mavericks for the fifth overall pick and selecting Trae Young
• Paul George being traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Los Angeles Clippers for Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and seven first round picks in 2019
• After blowing a 3-1 lead to the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 Western Conference Finals, Kevin Durant decided to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder and join the Warriors
• LeBron James leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Miami Heat in 2010, and then coming back to the Cavaliers in 2014, after winning two championships in Miami

Only time will tell how this trade will actually play out. However, the Lakers are definitely set up nicely for the next 10-15 years, but the Mavericks’ future is very concerning without Doncic.