The NBA world is still reeling with the news of the Dallas Mavericks trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. Legends of the game, analysts, and fans have flooded social media with their thoughts on this monumental move. Shaquille O’Neal also chimed in on the topic with a bold take.
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On the NBA on TNT show, Shaq began by discussing the “business of basketball,” stating that he wishes the situation was handled a little bit better by each organization. The big man himself is no stranger to being traded unexpectedly. He moved through several franchises in his playing days, including the Magic, the Lakers, the Heat, and the Celtics.
However, Shaq still thinks the way the Mavs traded a five-time All-NBA player like Doncic was pretty much disrespectful. That said, the 15-time All-Star surprisingly claimed that the Mavericks got the better of the trade, at least in the short term.
“However, I think Dallas got the better of the trade, for the next two years anyway.”
“For the next 2 years, I think Dallas won that trade.”
Shaq on the Luka & AD trade. pic.twitter.com/wkCrTxtcSI
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 5, 2025
It’s not hard to see why Shaq may have this viewpoint. Dallas is now a much more balanced squad with an elite guard like Kyrie Irving and an ace forward like Davis to lead the charge. AD can now go from playing center to playing the #4 position for the Mavs. In that role, he won’t have to damage his body like he did playing against legitimate centers in LA.
On the other hand, the Lakers now have two ball-dominant superstars without a legitimate center to complement them. Their lack of defense and rim protection could be a serious worry if not addressed. That being said, the Lakers did make the right trade from a long-term perspective.
Davis found success in the 4 spot during his time with the Pelicans, as well as during his 2020 NBA title win with the Lakers. So his Mavs stint will allow him to play more freely.
Stephen A. Smith now has the Mavericks as his pick for the #1 seed in the west
Shaq isn’t the only one who sees some positives for the Mavericks following the trade. Popular sports analyst Stephen A. Smith picked the Mavs as his #1 seed for the Western Conference, citing Davis’ addition as a key reason. He explains how the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder tend to fall to the Mavericks every time the two teams face one another. This includes the last playoffs when the Mavs beat them.
“The Dallas Mavericks seem to be an Achilles heel for OKC. OKC, as great and as talented as they are…and adding Hartenstein. But if you had the opportunity to get Isaiah Hartenstein or Anthony Davis who you picking? Dallas Mavericks just got Anthony Davis,” he confidently stated.
The Mavericks currently sit in the #8 position in the Western Conference with a record of 26-24. They’ll have a lot of work to do if they hope to catch up to the 39-9 Thunder, however.
