In a stunning turn of events as the NBA trade deadline approaches, two blockbuster trades have shaken up the league. Both deals involve three teams and primarily feature Western Conference teams. The first trade, by far the most shocking, is a three-team deal between the Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, and Dallas Mavericks. The most impactful part of this trade is the swap of All-Stars: Anthony Davis heads to the Mavericks, while Luka Dončić moves to the Lakers. This surprise deal sent shockwaves through the NBA world, as few expected a trade involving players of this caliber.
Photo Cred: ESPN
In addition to the star player swap, the Lakers receive Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, while the Mavericks land Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick from the Lakers. The Jazz get Jalen Hood-Schifino and two 2025 second-round picks.
The timing of this trade is notable, as Dončić has only played 22 of the Mavericks’ 49 games this season, sparking growing frustration between him and the organization. One of the issues cited was Dončić’s conditioning and weight. Meanwhile, the Lakers have been searching for another piece to complement LeBron James. A week ago, Anthony Davis mentioned that the team needed another big man so that he could focus more on playing power forward. In response, the Lakers decided to trade the injury-prone 31-year-old Davis for the 25-year-old former scoring champion, Dončić.
While losing Davis is a significant blow, especially given the Lakers’ lack of depth at center, they can now focus on building the team’s future around Dončić, who has more years of peak performance ahead. LeBron, while still playing at an elite level in his 22nd season, cannot be the sole foundation of the team’s future. The Mavericks seem to be betting against Dončić’s long-term future in Dallas, despite the fact that he had recently purchased a new home in the city. However, the organization’s dissatisfaction with Dončić’s approach and performance led them to make this dramatic trade.
The second major trade took place between the San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings, and Chicago Bulls. The headline names here are De’Aaron Fox, who is now a Spur, and Zach LaVine, who has joined the Kings. Other pieces in the trade include the Spurs also acquiring Jordan McLaughlin, while the Kings get Sidy Cissoko, three first-round picks, and three second-round picks. The Bulls receive Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter, and a first-round pick.
Photo Cred: Sporting News
Fox had shown little interest in signing an extension with the Kings, who were determined to get some value for him before he potentially left in free agency in 2025. Sacramento, having struggled to maintain their momentum after a record-breaking 2022-23 season that ended a 16-year playoff drought, now looks to pair LaVine with former teammate DeMar DeRozan, along with one of the league’s best centers, Domantas Sabonis.
The Spurs, meanwhile, are continuing their rebuild around two young stars: 27-year-old Fox and last year’s Rookie of the Year, Victor Wembanyama. With the addition of veterans like Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes, San Antonio hopes to build a competitive team for years to come. For the Bulls, the move signals a focus on youth and future development. These two trades have significantly reshaped the NBA landscape, with both teams involved looking toward their future with fresh perspectives and new strategies.
