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The Shocking Deal: Doncic and LeBron Together in Lakers

The NBA was rocked by an unexpected trade that many considered a bombshell, as the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Dallas Mavericks’ Slovenian star Luka Doncic in exchange for one of their key players in recent seasons, center Anthony Davis, who moved in the opposite direction.

With this move, the Lakers have paired Doncic with “King” LeBron James, while Davis has joined the Mavericks to form a dynamic duo with star guard Kyrie Irving.

It appears that the Lakers are planning for life after James with this trade, especially considering that Doncic led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last year, where they fell to the Boston Celtics. The five-time All-Star has been sidelined since Christmas due to a calf strain.

Doncic (25) was initially drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 2018 before being traded to Dallas, where he has shined this season. He has averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game in 22 of the 49 games his team has played this season, missing several due to injuries.

The Slovenian star was the NBA’s leading scorer last season, averaging 33.9 points per game, and was a strong contender for the MVP award.

Doncic could have signed a contract extension with the Mavericks at the end of this season worth $300 million, but he opted to join the Lakers. Meanwhile, Davis (31), who joined the Lakers in 2019 and played a key role in their 2020 championship run, has averaged 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists this season.

The trade shocked many for several reasons. ESPN insider Shams Charania, who first broke the news, revealed: “This deal happened behind closed doors. LeBron James wasn’t aware of it, and neither was Anthony Davis. I’ve also been told that Luka Doncic is still in shock over this trade.”

He added: “The Mavericks initiated the offer to the Lakers a few days ago, knowing the importance of acquiring Anthony Davis in return. The Lakers’ top executives had to meet to evaluate the trade.”

Charania continued: “Doncic is a huge NBA star at just 25 years old, making him the perfect face of the Lakers for years to come. Meanwhile, the Mavericks are determined to win a championship and believe Anthony Davis is the missing piece to achieve that goal.”

He also pointed out that “Davis and Irving share a close friendship, and Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd previously coached Davis when the Lakers won the title in 2020.”

Concluding his thoughts, Charania said: “This is the most shocking trade I’ve ever seen in my life.”

The Los Angeles Times also reported that “according to some sources within the Lakers organization, who are not authorized to speak publicly, the trade was a massive shock.”

As for Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, he commented: “I believe defense wins’ championships. By acquiring a defensive anchor at center, we have a better shot at winning the title. We are building a team to win both now and in the future.”

Betway is the top online betting site in Qatar, offering the best odds and markets for major sports, including the NBA. With shocking trades like Luka Doncic joining the Lakers and Anthony Davis heading to the Mavericks, Betway keeps fans engaged with expert insights and live betting options.

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