NBA Players Defend Mavericks’ Luka Doncic Trade in Anonymous Comments

The Dallas Mavericks shocked the sports world in February when they traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Dallas got Anthony Davis and Max Christie from Los Angeles for Doncic, the 25-year-old superstar who has made five first-team All-NBA squads. 

Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison was the one who wanted to trade Doncic, who didn't want to get traded. Harrison targeted Davis in the Mavericks-Lakers trade because he desired an elite two-way player to play alongside Kyrie Irving. 

Harrison has been getting destroyed by fans and pundits for trading Doncic, who guided the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last year. However, some NBA players understand why Harrison did what he did. 

“I think it was a good trade on both ends," an anonymous NBA player told The Athletic. "I feel like L.A. got two steps better with Luka. And I feel like AD is going to fit perfect in Dallas. I feel like it wasn’t a trade where you’re just, like, ‘Oh, they won it.’ Or, ‘They won it.’ I feel like the swap was great.”

“I feel like it worked out for both parties," another player said. "The Lakers got their future star because LeBron is probably gonna retire in the next year or two. Dallas wanted to win now. They needed another defensive stopper. They got Kyrie over there. They got a lot of wings and role players, so I think it worked for both teams.”