It’s maybe the most shocking trade in NBA history: The Dallas Mavericks traded 25-year-old superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for perennial All-Star Anthony Davis, among others, in the three-team deal.
Surprisingly, news of the talks was not leaked to the public before the deal made waves early Sunday morning.
Central to this high-profile transaction were, of course, discussions between Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison and Lakers GM Rob Pelinka.
Luka Doncic (77) was traded to the Lakers over the weekend. Getty Images
Harrison on Sunday shed light on his long-standing relationship with Pelinka — a connection that dates back to his days as a Nike executive when Pelinka was a player agent.
Over the last month, the two engaged in several “basketball” conversations that gradually shifted from casual banter to serious discussions about a potential trade.
“Then all of a sudden we’re like, ‘Would you ever do this?’” Harrison told the Dallas Morning News. “‘Nah, you’re joking, right?’
“‘Hmm. Interesting. Maybe I would.’”
“And then it just built over time over the last three weeks,” Harrison added.
A person familiar with the Mavericks’ thinking told The Dallas Morning News that Harrison was able to get a full-fledged endorsement from team governor Patrick Dumont in the weeks leading up to the trade.
Rob Pelinka, the general manager of the Lakers, executed the deal to obtain Luka Doncic from Dallas. NBAE via Getty Images
The deal gets the Mavericks out of a potentially perilous contract situation with Doncic, who was likely to opt out of his current deal in 2026 and enter unrestricted free agency.
Conventional wisdom would suggest the Lakers made the deal with the intention of signing Doncic to an extension.
Harrison, who has been leading a retooling of the Mavericks since taking over in 2021, emphasized the strategic importance of defense.
“I believe that defense wins championships,” Harrison told ESPN regarding his motivation to trade Doncic for Davis. “I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future.”
Nico Harrison, general manager of the Dallas Mavericks, traded Luka Doncic. NBAE via Getty Images
Long-time NBA reporter Marc Stein noted that Doncic did not ask for a trade.
While some Mavericks fans are still reeling from trading the face of the franchise and a talent many believed hadn’t yet reached his prime, Harrison’s confidence in the move is palpable.
His conversation with Pelinka underscores a mutual belief that this deal will not only reposition the Mavericks for immediate success but also lay the groundwork for long-term competitiveness.
The Mavericks reached the NBA Finals last season for the first time in 13 years, when they won their only championship.
