Eastern Conference basketball fans are burning the late night oil following the news of this incredible blockbuster trade involving a pair of Western Conference superstars.
In perhaps the biggest Shams Bomb in history, one that could even put his predecessors’ “Woj Bombs” to shame, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported tonight that the Dallas Mavericks are sending five-time All-Star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for eight-time All-Star Anthony Davis. It is by far the biggest trade involving superstar players, both of whom still have tons of great basketball ahead of them, in recent memory.
But Doncic and Davis aren’t the only players being moved around as part of this trade.
According to Charania, who cheekily confirmed that the trade is – in fact – real, there are a lot of pieces being moved around, and not just to the Lakers and Mavs either. The Utah Jazz are involved and got their pound of flesh from the trade too.
Here is the compensation breakdown:
Lakers receive: F Luka Doncic, F Maxi Kleber, F Markieff Morris
Mavericks receive: F Anthony Davis, G Max Christie, 2029 Lakers first-round draft pick
Jazz receive: G Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2025 Los Angeles Clippers second-round draft pick, 2025 Dallas Mavericks second-round draft pick
Yes, this is real. Sources tell ESPN: Full trade:
– Lakers: Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris
– Mavericks: Anthony Davis, Max Christie, 2029 LAL 1st
– Jazz: Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2025 Clippers 2nd, 2025 Mavericks 2nd https://t.co/bltojdTaQj
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2025
That’s a lot of moving pieces, but it’s hard to argue that anyone other than the Lakers won this trade. While Anthony Davis still averages 25 points and 12 rebounds a game and Max Christie has a bright future, Luka Doncic has been a top 10 player in the NBA for five straight years.
Fans on social media can hardly believe that this is real:
“Like wtf the mavs literally jsut went on a run bro, getting rid of Luka is INSANE,” one user wrote.
“Yeah I’m not buying this, gotta be hacked,” another user coped.
“now people need to confirm whether this follow up post is real. need a video,” Freezing Cold Takes joked.
It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a trade with this much superstar power being moved around all at once. Teams swapping one player with five-plus All-Star appearances for another with five-plus All-Star appearances are few and far between, to say the least.
Is this real?
Related: Breaking: Luka Doncic Traded To Lakers, Anthony Davis To Mavericks In Blockbuster Deal