In a stunning move that shocked the NBA world, the Dallas Mavericks have traded superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The deal went down late Saturday night, catching almost everyone – including Mavs head coach Jason Kidd – completely off guard.
The most bizarre part? Kidd didn’t even know his best player was being shipped out until the very last minute.
“I found out at the 11th hour, right before it was announced,” Kidd revealed at Sunday’s press conference, looking visibly frustrated.
Mavericks GM Nico Harrison worked on the deal in complete secrecy for nearly a month, keeping talks with Lakers GM Rob Pelinka under wraps. Not even his own head coach was in the loop.
That’s pretty much unheard of in pro sports, where GMs and coaches typically work hand-in-hand on major roster decisions.
Harrison tried to defend the move Sunday, saying he knew what kind of players Kidd wanted. He pointed to Anthony Davis, who’s coming to Dallas in the deal, as proof he had the team’s interests in mind.
But trading away a 25-year-old superstar like Doncic? That’s raised eyebrows across the league.
Luka isn’t just good – he’s already one of the NBA’s top five players. And he’s only getting better, set to turn 26 this month.
What’s really got people talking is how the Mavs handled it. By keeping the deal quiet and working exclusively with the Lakers, they might have missed out on better offers from other teams.
Basketball insiders are scratching their heads. Why trade a generational talent without shopping him around? And how does a GM not tell his head coach about moving the face of the franchise?
The Lakers got their man, but the Mavericks are left with serious questions about their future – and their front office’s decision-making process.
