The Los Angeles Lakers have pulled off arguably one of the biggest trades in NBA history. In a three-team deal, they acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks to team up with LeBron James in what would be a potent and dangerous offensive pairing. Shams Charania broke the news, announcing that the Lakers have sent Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick in the 2029 NBA Draft for Luka, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris.
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While the details of this blockbuster trade will continue to trickle out in the next few days, it reportedly involves the Utah Jazz too. NBA journalists are in hyperdrive, bringing out some inside scoops and speculation as we speak.
As per Brett Siegel, “A rift had been forming between Anthony Davis and Lakers management, especially after his sit-down interview with ESPN.” This led to the Lakers willing to trade the 10-time All-Star. LeBron has already brushed aside this claim, though.
James, meanwhile, would be smiling since he is said to have been dreaming of playing alongside Doncic at the Lakers. However, Dave McMenamin of ESPN has revealed that the King had no idea about the situation involving Davis, Doncic, and the others.
Now, this is quite an improbable situation considering the magnitude of the shuffle. Kevin Garnett couldn’t buy it since he knows all too clearly how much of a say the King has in matters related to the team. He took to his Instagram to call out LBJ for lying.
“Bron lyyyyyyyyyynnn. Of course he knew.. had to sign off on it.. simple!! NBA biz,” wrote Garnett.
KG calls out LeBron James pic.twitter.com/17qi1jQlJH
— tragicpatek (@tragicpatek) February 2, 2025
Since the trade news came out, fans have been speculating about LeBron’s possible role in acquiring Luka. However, McMenamin described a different narrative in his report.
He stated that LBJ was out for dinner with his family after the win against the New York Knicks when he heard the news. He then cited sources as saying that the superstar was surprised and, apparently, took time to process it.
LeBron James learned of the Davis-Doncic trade after the Knicks game when it broke while he was out to dinner with his family, sources close to James told ESPN. James was surprised by the news, is processing it and had no idea it was in the works, sources said.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 2, 2025
The news is hard to believe because LeBron has a lot of pull in LA and is known for his involvement in major decisions, often dictating them. Then again, looking at some other early reports regarding this trade, it’s possible that King James had no idea what the Lakers front office was plotting.
Early word on all of this:
Apparently a rift had been forming between Anthony Davis and Lakers management, especially after his sit-down interview with ESPN.
This trade JUST came together in the last few hours with nobody around the league knowing about it.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) February 2, 2025
And LeBron was not the only one left in the dark, it seems. Charania claimed it was the Mavericks who approached the Lakers. They offered Luka, who didn’t know what was going on behind the scenes either.
Siegel, in fact, stated that the front office had kept it under wraps till the last minute. The trade came together in the last few hours, with the teams involved rushing to finalize it. Because of the sudden nature, not a lot of voices were involved in making it happen, it seems.
