BREAKING: Shams: Mavs Trading Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, & Markieff Morris to the Lakers for Anthony Davis + FRP

[Ruma85]

So from what has been reported the Mavs actually initiated the trade.
Luka didn't demand a trade and AD, Bron and even Luka himself had no idea this was coming.
I don't the reason but man, for Dallas to actually want to move on from Luka freakin Doncic, the guy that was playing in the Finals just the year before, it has to be something BIG.
I mean NOLA still won't let go of Zion lol

Yes, they were concerned about his conditioning.

Going for 32yo injury prone AD because you're concerned about your 25yo superstar player's conditioning?
Yes his conditioning could be better but we're still talking about a guy that has averaged 30+ over the last 5 years and just went to the NBA Finals.
And even if conditioning is this big issue, why do this particular trade in the shadows?
If the other 29 teams had any idea Luka could be on the market Dallas would have a plethora of offers to choose from.

https://hoopshype.com/rumor/mavs-approached-one-other-team-about-luka-doncic-trade/

[Jazz9]

Still feels surreal

[sashaturiaf]

Not to get political, but I think ownership had a lot to do with this trade. The Mavs are owned by Las Vegas Sands Corp, which owns several hotels and casinos. They wanted to get under the luxury tax and avoid paying Luka the supermax because the US Government's new policies negatively affect their other businesses. Hotels import a lot of goods and employ a lot of immigrants.

That might actually play a role, but wouldn't it be better financially to keep Luca anyway. He's a merchandise magnet and free money especially in europe. You can get under the tax in other ways. Now your nba franchise is irrelevant again

Las Vegas Sands Corp probably viewed Luka's upcoming contract extension as a potential risk. In business, there's this thing called risk mitigation. It's the practice of reducing the impact of potential risks by developing a plan to manage, eliminate, or limit setbacks as much as possible.

Luka was up for a $340 million contract extension this summer. If the Mavs signed Luka to that extension, they would have to put $340 million in an escrow account because NBA contracts are guaranteed.

This trade eliminates the need to pay Luka, avoids the NBA luxury tax, and gives the Mavs ownership a share of the luxury tax revenue. The NBA is a capital-intensive business, so if the Mavs owners are facing potential financial problems with their other businesses, this trade makes a lot of sense.

Even if what you say has an element of truth to it, Dallas held all the cards. Luka's max contract was not an albatross that couldn't be moved, any team in the league would have given it to him. All Dallas had to do was say we want to trade Luka and 29 teams would have called with their best offers. If Mikal Bridges was worth 5 picks, what's Luka worth?

AD is a fantastic player but he's 6 years older than Luka. The components to the trade and the way it was rushed through without going through the whole typical NBA trade process simply points to collusion and something very fishy.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

29 other teams just called Nico and said 'bruh I would've given you more than that'

[Ruma85]

Still feels surreal

I know, 2 teams knew Jazz & one more.

[Valard]

This is beyond dumb.

[Airmiess]

They already had a decent anchor in Lively and Gafford. This is like overkill now.

[axeman23]

This reminds me of the shock of the Heatles teaming up. It seems like the trade version of that.

It may set a new trend. What a soft ass league.

Except for the part when they, you know... gave UP an All-NBA player to GET an All-NBA player. So actually, NOT really all that similar, HUH?

[Jazz9]

Imagine thinking you're making a "win now" move by trading Luka Doncic
If you don't want to pay his supermax at least get some budding stars and a ton of picks
Just don't get a player who's 6 years older, it's not that hard...

[bledredwine]

This reminds me of the shock of the Heatles teaming up. It seems like the trade version of that.

It may set a new trend. What a soft ass league.

Except for the part when they, you know... gave UP an All-NBA player to GET an All-NBA player. So actually, NOT really all that similar, HUH?

Are you talking about the injury prone one who’s six years older often plays fifty game seasons and wasn’t in the finals last year like Luka?

[-Luke-]

Just took a look at the Mavs board and the first thread is "Goodbye". Honestly feel for you guys. I was somewhat of a Mavs fan while Dirk played and rooted for you guys every year in the playoffs, cried for like half an hour when Dirk and the Mavs finally got that ring. Can't imagine what Mavs fans are going through now. My heart goes out to you guys.

[CallMeKahn]

Imagine thinking you're making a "win now" move by trading Luka Doncic
If you don't want to pay his supermax at least get some budding stars and a ton of picks
Just don't get a player who's 6 years older, it's not that hard...

There's got to be something deeper here. If you want to break the franchise down, fine. Trade for assets, suck, move the franchise to Vegas, and get good in a few years. I don't buy the Supermax/Conditioning argument one bit.

[tekkon]

I woke up to double-check the news, because last night I spent half of the evening freaking out.

So he's really traded, wow.

I kinda hope the Mavs win a championship in the next few years, just to see what happens around here.

[Mr Puddles]

Dallas traded Nash in his prime before he won 2 MVPs under Cuban. They definitely aren't afraid to trade anyone.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

Nash wasn't traded and he wasn't anywhere close to MVP Nash when that happened.

Nash indeed wasn't traded, the Mavericks just didn't want to match Phoenix's offer (65 mil for 6 years) so that they could give the money to Eric Dampier instead (73 mil 7 years).

Somehow that decision still seems less dumb than today's trade.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

They must know something about Luka, otherwise this makes no sense.

Silver and the Lakers owner must've paid the Mavs owner a ransom.

[JXL]

I just woke up, and I am still stunned and baffled that the Mavs traded their greatest player since Dirk Nowitzki.

[Pacernation]

btw. great situation for AD now. Nobody in Dallas will appreciate him because of this trade. This team is dead before they even played one game.

[Ben-N1ce]

Imagine thinking you're making a "win now" move by trading Luka Doncic
If you don't want to pay his supermax at least get some budding stars and a ton of picks
Just don't get a player who's 6 years older, it's not that hard...

The Mavs saw they could never reach a finals when Luka...obviously.

[Jazz9]

Imagine thinking you're making a "win now" move by trading Luka Doncic
If you don't want to pay his supermax at least get some budding stars and a ton of picks
Just don't get a player who's 6 years older, it's not that hard...

There's got to be something deeper here. If you want to break the franchise down, fine. Trade for assets, suck, move the franchise to Vegas, and get good in a few years. I don't buy the Supermax/Conditioning argument one bit.

Oh I buy none of the basketball related reasons because there's absolutely nothing that would make sense.
Franchises and fanbases DREAM about getting a Luka Doncic and Mavs just gave him away.
They didn't even try to get the best return, it's utterly bizarre.

Read on Twitter

[Tomhomes33]

Not to get political, but I think ownership had a lot to do with this trade. The Mavs are owned by Las Vegas Sands Corp, which owns several hotels and casinos. They wanted to get under the luxury tax and avoid paying Luka the supermax because the US Government's new policies negatively affect their other businesses. Hotels import a lot of goods and employ a lot of immigrants.

That might actually play a role, but wouldn't it be better financially to keep Luca anyway. He's a merchandise magnet and free money especially in europe. You can get under the tax in other ways. Now your nba franchise is irrelevant again

Las Vegas Sands Corp probably viewed Luka's upcoming contract extension as a potential risk. In business, there's this thing called risk mitigation. It's the practice of reducing the impact of potential risks by developing a plan to manage, eliminate, or limit setbacks as much as possible.

Luka was up for a $340 million contract extension this summer. If the Mavs signed Luka to that extension, they would have to put $340 million in an escrow account because NBA contracts are guaranteed.

This trade eliminates the need to pay Luka, avoids the NBA luxury tax, and gives the Mavs ownership a share of the luxury tax revenue. The NBA is a capital-intensive business, so if the Mavs owners are facing potential financial problems with their other businesses, this trade makes a lot of sense.

Make no sense at all, even if it is luxury tax, and tariffs coming back from Canada, Mexico, China etc..than you trade for 2young prospects and 7 FRP, and couple of swaps and seconds..you set uo your franchise for years to come.

This way you MAYBE Have ONE shot at title at best. You ruined your any future trade credentials..when you will look to trade AD , Irwing and whoever else for years to come. What do you think Dallas will be offered for any of these players? hahaha..

The franchise is done in Dallas and will be moved to Vegas in 2-3 years tops. As soon as revenue starts to drop and ot will start immediately..you think fans will buy AD jerseys? Haha..

They destroyed Mavs in Dallas..and it has to be deliberate..to move them to Vegas,,thats the only explanation behind all of this