Mavericks GM Offers Strange Explanation For Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis Trade With Lakers

Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison was quickly put on the defensive Sunday while discussing his shocking decision to move on from five-time All-NBA First Team superstar ex-Dallas guard Luka Doncic this weekend.

The 25-year-old, along with a pair of reserve big men, was flipped to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for 10-time All-Star power forward/center Anthony Davis, shooting guard Max Christie, and L.A.’s unprotected first-round pick in 2029.

Read More: Lakers Land Luka Doncic in Blockbuster Trade with Mavericks for Anthony Davis

The Mavericks and Lakers each sent out a second-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to the Utah Jazz for some reason. Utah also poached second-year Lakers point guard Jalen Hood-Schifino.

Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor reports that Harrison emphasized the import of moving on from Doncic sooner rather than later. The 6-foot-6 vet would have been eligible for a five-year, $345 million contract extension this offseason.

Harrison’s comments indicate that he had no intention of paying that.

“We really feel like we got ahead of what was going to be a tumultuous summer, him being eligible for the supermax and also a year away from him being able to opt out of any contract,” Harrison said. “And so we really felt like we got out in front of that. We know teams, they’ve had it out there, teams have been loading up to try to sign him once that comes available.”

Per The Athletic’s Christian Clark, Harrison addressed the perceived disappointment of Dallas fans who had no doubt hoped Doncic, a generational superstar, would stick around for the long term.

“I’m sorry they are frustrated,” Harrison said. “It’s something we believe in as an organization that’s going to make us better. We believed it sets us up to win not only now but in the future. And when we win, I believe the frustration will go away.”

According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Harrison raved about the fit of Davis for Dallas during his team presser.

“He fits our timeframe,” Harrison said. “If you pair him with Kyrie [Irving] and the rest of the guys, he fits right along with our timeframe to win now and win in the future. And the future to me is three, four years from now. The future 10 years from now, I don’t know. They’ll probably bury me and [Kidd] by then. Or we’ll bury ourselves.”

Read More: Lakers’ LeBron James Slams Rumors Around Anthony Davis, Luka Doncic Trade

Davis, a 10-time All-Star and one-time champion will turn 32 this March, while Irving, an eight-time All-Star and one-time champion, will be 33.

Both will unquestionably be first-ballot Hall of Famers once they hang up their sneakers, but just how much gas they have left in their respective tanks beyond, say, the next two seasons remains to be seen. Irving and Davis have struggled with various health issues already throughout their careers.

Doncic, meanwhile, is 25 years old and was unquestionably the Mavericks’ best player during their run to the NBA Finals just last summer.

Irving and Davis are hardly chopped liver, but their window for contention as the core of a franchise could be far more finite than Doncic’s. Doncic is also unquestionably the best player of the three. He finished third in MVP voting in 2023-24.

Across 42 healthy bouts this year, Davis is averaging 25.7 points on 52.8 percent shooting from the floor and 78.8 percent shooting from the foul line, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists.

Through 39 contests in 2024-25, Irving is averaging 24.3 points while slashing .479/.415/.901, 4.8 assists and 4.6 rebounds.

More NBA News:

Top 5 NBA Teams That Need to Make a Deadline Trade

L.A. Clippers Trade Veteran Forward, Former Top Pick to Utah Jazz for 2 Huge Upgrades

For more NBA news and rumors, stay tuned to Newsweek Sports.