DONCIC, DAVIS DEALT IN BIG BLOCKBUSTER!
In a three-team trade, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired guard Luka Doncic, forward/center Maxi Kleber and center/forward Markieff Morris from the Dallas Mavericks; Dallas acquired center Anthony Davis, guard Max Christie and a first-round draft pick in 2029 from the Lakers; and the Utah Jazz acquired guard Jalen Hood-Schifino and a second-round draft pick in 2025 from the Lakers, and a second-round draft pick in 2025 from the Mavericks.
What does it give the Los Angeles Lakers
Whoa! This deal might go down as the biggest in North American pro sports since Wayne Gretzky was traded from Edmonton to Los Angeles in the NHL in 1988! Players of Luka Doncic's skill set and talent are almost never traded, but here we are. Doncic is a true point guard with some of the best vision and passing skills the NBA has seen in a long time. In fact, he plays a lot like a younger version of new teammate LeBron James. Doncic is currently injured but he should make a huge impact on the Lakers when healthy. Kleber and Morris will add more depth at the power forward and center positions for the Lakers, who will have a huge hole to fill at center following the departure of Davis.
What does it give the Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks are taking a massive gamble here by trading away a franchise player like Doncic. Kyrie Irving is more than capable of taking over point guard duties in Dallas, and has been doing so during the Doncic injury anyway. However, the Mavericks were deadly with both players in the backcourt. Now, Dallas will shift to a more defensive squad with Davis the centerpiece under the basket. Davis is a terrific consolation prize for trading away Doncic, but he is six years older and just as prone to injury. Christie is also a key piece added by the Mavs here, since he had been starting for the Lakers recently. He might do the same for Dallas, or come off the bench to provide some offense from the wing.
What does it give the Utah Jazz
The Jazz were added to this massive blockbuster trade as facilitators. The Lakers needed to move Hood-Schifino, who has appeared in just two regular-season games in 2024-25 due to a persistent hamstring strain, so Utah obliged. In addition to the 21-year-old guard, who still has untapped upside as a first-round pick (No. 17 overall) in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Jazz acquired two second-round draft picks (one each from the Lakers and Mavericks) without surrendering anything at all in this deal. This move was a no-brainer for Jazz GM Justin Zanik. Look for the Jazz to continue to make moves in advance of this year's NBA trade deadline.
Fantasy impact
Doncic and Davis are superstars, and they will continue to be impact fantasy players with their new teams. They should continue to be rostered with confidence. That said, both need to get back on the court soon because neither player has been capable of staying healthy over the years. Christie could see more of a fantasy spike after this trade, while Hood-Schifino is a player to stash in keeper formats (now more than ever). The other names involved in this trade were throw-ins who are more valuable to their new NBA teams than to fantasy managers.
