Just after midnight on February 2nd, 2025 the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers made NBA history. The world found out that the Mavericks and Lakers negotiated a trade ultimately ending with Dallas giving up top scorer Luka Dončić, power forward Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris. This was all exchanged for Lakers power forward Anthony Davis, shooting guard Max Christie as well as the 2029 first-round pick. However, all light has been on the trade between Dončić, and Davis; this is the first time in NBA history that two All-NBA Team players have been traded midseason, and fans were not excited to hear the news. Mavericks fans pride themselves on their loyalty to their team, and Dončić’s pride for the city of Dallas. Many fans were outraged and confused on why the trade occurred so unexpectedly. No one saw this coming.
Dončić, who is originally from Slovenia came to Dallas 7 years ago to play basketball at the highest level. In a goodbye letter written to the city of Dallas he expresses his gratitude toward the city and fans for making him feel welcome when he came to the United States. Dončić’s strong connection to the city that felt like “home away from home” to him, this makes it just as heartbreaking to the special fans and supporters of the Mavericks. The biggest question that everyone is asking is, why?
According to ESPN the Mavs general manager Nico Harrison calls Lakers Rob Pelinka to negotiate the trade. A motivational factor in the Mavericks trade was their disappointment with Dončić’s constant injuries, which was a result of his bad diet and conditioning. There has been a lot of backlash toward Dončić on bad defense due to him being out of shape but no one thought it would result in a trade.
Julian Medina gives his opinion on Nico Harrison saying, “I think the trade was very bad, and Nico Harrison needs to be fired because now LeBron and Luka are together.”
The Mavericks were hoping to win more championships in the future and Dončić’s unreliability due to him being injury-prone was too risky for them to keep him. Bowie students speak out on their opinion of the Dončić, AD trade.
“I think it was pretty crazy. I thought it was a joke at first or like fake. It was kind of hard to believe because it doesn’t make much sense for the Mavericks, I don’t know I’m still processing it I would say,” senior Jorge Rubio said. “They might be a little better now but it kind of messed up their future so I don’t think it was a good idea.”
However not everyone is totally opposed to the idea of a trade between the Mavericks and the Lakers, sophomore Brody Channel gave his opinion on the outcome of the trade.
“I feel alright about the trade, at the start I was kind of upset because Luka was probably my favorite player and then he got traded away,” Brody Channel said, “We got a good young player, and then Anthony Davis which Anthony Davis is hurt now which isn’t good; then Max Christie I think will be good later in the league. I am iffy about the trade, but I think Luka should’ve been a Maverick for life.”
Lots of people seem to be feeling similar, and agreeing that Dončić definitely should have been a Maverick for life. Proving again the disappointment of the loss of Dončić for Maverick fans around Bowie. Dončić’s talent is one of the best in the NBA which adds to the world’s shock of this unexpected trade.
As Brody touched on Anthony Davis is now injured, which is not ideal for the Mavericks. On February 8, the Mavericks hosted the Rockets at home for the first time since they traded Dončić and it was looking like a great game. Davis had 24 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks all by halftime, the future was looking bright, until it wasn’t. With two minutes left in the third quarter Anthony Davis goes down during a non-contact injury which we later find out is a left adductor strain, leaving fans even more heartbroken then before.
It is safe to say the trade has upset and angered many Dallas supporters, but as much as losing Dončić hurts I think that it might be better for him in the end. Dončić now gets to work with his idol, LeBron James and gets to learn and train with the Lakers in Los Angeles. This trade definitely worked in the Lakers favor and the next few years are looking good for the city of Los Angeles. As for Dallas, we will have to wait and see what happens, Max Christie has a while left in the NBA, being only 22, and Anthony Davis is under contract with the Mavericks until the end of the 2027-2028 season.
