The Real Reason Luka Was Traded to the Lakers

[clippertown]

There is zero chance that the league lets the Los Angeles Lakers become a bottom feeding team, and with LeBron's age, this is a reality they had to accept. Luka in LA makes sense from league perspective. It seems the Commish may have forced Cubans hand.

One wonders now if the recent lopsided KAT trade to the Knicks had the same greasy league fingers on it?

What?

Prior to Lebron coming we had 5 bottom feeding seasons

2 seasons where we lost 60+ games

2 seasons where we lost 50+ games

the best season we had prior to lebrons arrival was a 35-47 season

We were literally THE bottom feeding team in west. we were the joke of NBA.

The league had other teams holding up the slack during the Lakers down years, but the end result was LBJ and AD to stabilize it.

With attendance in freefall right now, Silver is not going to stand pat and just wait around. Luka and KAT were preemptive moves.

[kombayn]

I'm just waiting for LeBron & Bronny getting traded to the Cavs with Zion Williamson going to the Lakers in some 3 or 4 team trade at the deadline.

[nbaguy1]

That would make me watch again. But only if they also get James Harden. Fat Boys reuinion.

Watch on YouTube

[Tracymcgoaty]

There is zero chance that the league lets the Los Angeles Lakers become a bottom feeding team, and with LeBron's age, this is a reality they had to accept. Luka in LA makes sense from league perspective. It seems the Commish may have forced Cubans hand.

One wonders now if the recent lopsided KAT trade to the Knicks had the same greasy league fingers on it?

What?

Prior to Lebron coming we had 5 bottom feeding seasons

2 seasons where we lost 60+ games

2 seasons where we lost 50+ games

the best season we had prior to lebrons arrival was a 35-47 season

We were literally THE bottom feeding team in west. we were the joke of NBA.

The league had other teams holding up the slack during the Lakers down years, but the end result was LBJ and AD to stabilize it.

With attendance in freefall right now, Silver is not going to stand pat and just wait around. Luka and KAT were preemptive moves.

come on dude

[Sign5]

My deepseek

If the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis, it would be one of the most shocking and consequential trades in NBA history. Whether it's a "good" trade depends on the context, team needs, and long-term goals. Let’s break it down:

### **Why it might be good for the Mavericks:**
1. **Defensive Upgrade**: Anthony Davis is one of the best defensive players in the NBA. His ability to protect the rim, switch onto perimeter players, and anchor a defense would immediately improve the Mavericks' often lackluster defense.
2. **Win-Now Move**: If the Mavericks believe Luka’s timeline for championship contention doesn’t align with their current roster, trading for Davis could be a win-now move. Davis is a proven champion (2020 with the Lakers) and a dominant force when healthy.
3. **Injury Concerns for Luka**: If the Mavericks were worried about Luka’s long-term durability or his fit with the team’s culture, trading him for a player of Davis’ caliber might make sense.

### **Why it might be bad for the Mavericks:**
1. **Luka’s Ceiling**: Luka Dončić is a generational talent, only 25 years old (as of 2025), and already a perennial MVP candidate. Trading him away could haunt the franchise for decades if he continues to ascend.
2. **Anthony Davis’ Injury History**: Davis has struggled with injuries throughout his career. If he can’t stay healthy, the Mavericks would lose both their present and future.
3. **Fan Backlash**: Luka is the face of the Mavericks and a fan favorite. Trading him could alienate the fanbase and hurt the team’s marketability.

### **Why it might be good for the Lakers:**
1. **Youth and Superstar Potential**: Luka Dončić is younger than Davis and has the potential to be the best player in the league. Pairing him with LeBron James (if he’s still on the team) or building around Luka for the future would be a massive win.
2. **Offensive Firepower**: Luka’s playmaking and scoring ability would elevate the Lakers’ offense to new heights.

### **Why it might be bad for the Lakers:**
1. **Defensive Drop-off**: Losing Davis would significantly weaken the Lakers’ defense, which has been a cornerstone of their success in recent years.
2. **Fit Concerns**: While Luka is an incredible talent, his ball-dominant style might not mesh perfectly with LeBron James, who also thrives with the ball in his hands.

### **Overall:**
This trade would be incredibly risky for both teams. For the Mavericks, it would depend on whether they believe Anthony Davis can stay healthy and lead them to a championship. For the Lakers, it would hinge on Luka’s ability to carry the franchise into the future. In most scenarios, trading a young superstar like Luka is rarely a good idea unless the return is overwhelmingly favorable.

If this trade actually happened, it would dominate NBA discussions for years to come! Let me know if you’d like to dive deeper into hypothetical scenarios or analyze the potential impact further.

[atlantabbq99]

The reason why the trade happened is because Luka demanded the trade. Dallas has always been a place NBA players have been trying to avoid like a plague. Even mav fans will agree they have a hard time getting free agents.

[clippertown]

What?

Prior to Lebron coming we had 5 bottom feeding seasons

2 seasons where we lost 60+ games

2 seasons where we lost 50+ games

the best season we had prior to lebrons arrival was a 35-47 season

We were literally THE bottom feeding team in west. we were the joke of NBA.

The league had other teams holding up the slack during the Lakers down years, but the end result was LBJ and AD to stabilize it.

With attendance in freefall right now, Silver is not going to stand pat and just wait around. Luka and KAT were preemptive moves.

come on dude

I am not saying the league forced this trade, I was just commenting on another poster who thought Silver had his hand in it. I made myself clear earlier that the Mavs sent Luka to LA because he was a pain in the ass and they did not think they could win with him.

The fact that the Mavs did not shop him around and clearly got hosed either indicates the management is incompetent (unlikely) OR they really wanted him gone and were willing to take a loss OR the league had a hand in it. You tell me what happened?

[web123888]

The league knows LeBron would never have a chance of getting a 5th, let alone 6th, ring to tie Jordan without essentially cheating.

[Tracymcgoaty]

The league had other teams holding up the slack during the Lakers down years, but the end result was LBJ and AD to stabilize it.

With attendance in freefall right now, Silver is not going to stand pat and just wait around. Luka and KAT were preemptive moves.

come on dude

I am not saying the league forced this trade, I was just commenting on another poster who thought Silver had his hand in it. I made myself clear earlier that the Mavs sent Luka to LA because he was a pain in the ass and they did not think they could win with him.

The fact that the Mavs did not shop him around and clearly got hosed either indicates the management is incompetent (unlikely) OR they really wanted him gone and were willing to take a loss OR the league had a hand in it. You tell me what happened?

Dont have to speculate on what happened dude. Just wait a couple of months as the fragments are being gathered to show the full story.

[jswede]

[clippertown]

come on dude

I am not saying the league forced this trade, I was just commenting on another poster who thought Silver had his hand in it. I made myself clear earlier that the Mavs sent Luka to LA because he was a pain in the ass and they did not think they could win with him.

The fact that the Mavs did not shop him around and clearly got hosed either indicates the management is incompetent (unlikely) OR they really wanted him gone and were willing to take a loss OR the league had a hand in it. You tell me what happened?

Dont have to speculate on what happened dude. Just wait a couple of months as the fragments are being gathered to show the full story.

It can only be a limited number of options. If it is not management incompetence, disklike of Luka, or league influence, then it must have come from Luka's side with a trade demand specifically to the Lakers and I doubt that would not be leaked already.

[Mallie]

The real reason Luka left.

#4 will SHOCK you!

Watch 'til the end!

[Ayt]

What does Cuban have to do with anything?

[Upperclass]

Teams being sold either seem to end up with a top pick or top player..ahmazing

[robbie84]

A lot more than meets the eye than what is uttered by these “media pundits”. This was a very calculated move

yeahhhhh, and covid is fake and September 11, 2001 was a set up.

Some of y'all are insufferable.

[og15]

Teams being sold either seem to end up with a top pick or top player..ahmazing

Boston, Phoenix, Brooklyn, what did they get?

It's either a consistent pattern or it's not. If it isn't, then we're just doing the natural human thing of trying to make connections with everything

[Johnny Fontane]

A lot more than meets the eye than what is uttered by these “media pundits”. This was a very calculated move

yeahhhhh, and covid is fake and September 11, 2001 was a set up.

Some of y'all are insufferable.

Right…

[MrBigShot]

The reality is that Nico and the mavs owner thought Luka was overrated and not committed. Had they not landed the 1st pick they would've been screwed long term.

[JulesWinnfield]

Lakers just have stuff falling out of the sky into their laps for decades. And here I sit as a Knicks fan in a bigger market than LA and can’t sniff a title in my lifetime yet (in my 40s now). I’m about to watch the OKC Thunder who didn’t even exist until 5 minutes ago win a title before my team. Rig something my way outside of the Ewing lotto, the one sketchy thing we had go our way in the last 50 years and people still whine about it

[ryguy613]

****, we're gonna be relitigating this trade for like a decade arent we?