Jeanie Buss breaks silence on why the Lakers traded Anthony Davis

The Los Angeles Lakers’ blockbuster trade sending Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic stunned the NBA world. Now, team owner Jeanie Buss has shed light on the reasoning behind the move, citing both on-court struggles and Davis’ dissatisfaction with his role.  

Buss pointed to the Lakers’ repeated playoff failures against the Denver Nuggets, who had eliminated Los Angeles in back-to-back postseasons—sweeping them in the 2023 Western Conference Finals and defeating them 4-1 in the first round of the 2024 playoffs.  

“We have lost the last [two] years in a row to the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs, and we really didn't have anything that was going to look different going into the playoffs again,” Buss said on NPR’s “Morning Edition” show.

Davis’ frustration with his role was another key factor. The 10-time All-Star had long been unhappy playing as a center rather than his preferred power forward position, an issue that persisted for most of his six-year tenure in Los Angeles.  

“Anthony Davis was complaining about where he was being played and he wasn't happy,” Buss added. “So I think this was a positive for both teams. They got what they were looking for; we got what we were looking for.”

Since the trade, the Lakers have thrived. Sitting second in the Western Conference at 39-21, they have won 17 of their last 20 games, including a current seven-game win streak. With Doncic in the lineup, Los Angeles are 7-2, cementing themselves as a legitimate title contender.  

Dallas, however, has struggled. Davis has been ruled out indefinitely, with injuries ravaging the roster. The losses of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II have left the frontcourt depleted, and Kyrie Irving’s recent ACL tear has ended his season.  

With Irving out, many expect the Mavericks to shut down Davis and shift their focus to next season. Currently 10th in the West, Dallas is now in danger of slipping out of the play-in race, with the Phoenix Suns and other teams closing in.

For the Lakers, the addition of Doncic has revitalized their championship hopes, with early results suggesting they made the right gamble. Meanwhile, the Mavericks face an uncertain future, as what initially seemed like a win-win deal has quickly unraveled due to injuries, casting doubt on their short-term prospects.