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. Shaquille O’Neal chimed in about the trade with a bold take.
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During TNT Tuesday, Shaq discussed the “business of basketball,” stating that he wishes the two organizations handled the situation a little bit better. It could be that the big man is speaking from experience. After all, he is no stranger to being traded unexpectedly. O’Neal 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 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.
Shaq isn’t the only one who believes Dallas got the better of the trade. Various analysts like Skip Bayless, Stephen A. Smith, and others believe Mavs got the better deal, at least in the short term. Smith brought up how Mavs would’ve made this move to counter Thunder adding Isaiah Hartenstein.
Stephen A. Smith believes the Mavericks can be #1 seed in the west
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.
Davis playing the 4 has proven to unlock his potential in the past. We saw how good he was when paired with DeMarcus Cousins in the Pelicans, and then how dominant he was in the 2020 NBA Playoffs, both times playing the 4.
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. Realistically, they can aim for a home berth in the playoffs, and then battle it out in the post-season.
