February 2, 2025, the National Basketball Association (NBA) concluded its daily schedule of games and players prepared for the next day. With almost no warning or rumors, Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) insider Shams Charania announced that the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks finalized a trade. In exchange for Anthony Davis (3), Max Christie (12) and a first-round pick, the Lakers would receive Markeiff Morris (88), Maxi Kleber (42) and, shockingly, franchise player Luka Dončić (77). The league immediately flew into a panic as players and fans alike stormed to social media, specifically X, asking countless questions, even assuming a hacker had taken control of Charania’s account.
Throughout the day, fans and sports channels provided commentary on the situation, arguing over which team managed to win the trade. While Lakers fans argued that the Mavericks forfeited a generational talent for an aging superstar for the equivalent of a bag of chips, Mavericks fans criticized Dončić’s health and conditioning, claiming he weighed over 270 pounds. Notably, Mavericks President Nico Harrison criticized Luka’s defense, arguing that with Davis’ two-way presence alongside three-point and defensive wing Paul Jamaine Washington’s (25) effort and Daniel Gafford’s (21) interior presence, the Mavericks would skyrocket in the league.
Reports from Los Angeles and Dallas claimed that both Davis and Dončić’s relationships with their respective teams seemed to decline this season, but these claims lack any solid evidence. Fans expected a sentimental goodbye for both players from their franchises, but it never came: only a simple goodbye video and a small message from both players wishing their former home teams well. The lack of emotion between players and franchises from what fans expected garnered suspicion that the trade only worked due to the relationship souring in both teams. The trade seemed to blindside almost all parties, with neither Dončić, Davis or any of the owners knowing of the trade ensuing under their noses.
Despite the negative start to the season, both teams lacked a glaring reason to break down their cores. While Dallas dropped from championship contention down to play in struggles, they held a steady pace without their star player as Luka suffered an ankle injury during the Christmas Day game. The Lakers seemed to find the final piece of the puzzle, with Jarred Vanderbilt (2) finally returning after ankle surgery, Los Angeles held onto the fifth seed with a tight grip. Anthony Davis leaped into a leading two-way player, averaging 25.7 points and 12 rebounds with a stifling 2.1 blocks a game, placing his name alongside Victor Wembanyama (1) and Walker Kessler (24) for the Defensive Player Of the Year award.
“I honestly think the Dončić and Davis trade right now is a lose-lose deal. The Mavericks are going to have to deal with health issues through Davis and Kyrie Irving (11). I don’t think a duo of LeBron James (23) and Dončićcan go well because both players will want the ball in their hands for a long time. Down the road, the Lakers will definitely profit more but right now, the trade makes no sense,” junior Jackson McMellen said.
With the entire league reeling from the trade news shaking the foundations of basketball itself, everyone met an equally shocking reveal. At 8:29 p.m. the same day, Charania announced a three-team trade between the Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls. Sidy Cissoko (25) and Zach Lavine (8) would go to Sacramento, Zach Collins (23), Tre Jones (33) and Kevin Huerter (9) to Chicago and Kings franchise player De’Aaron Fox (5) to San Antonio. While Lavine reunites with teammate and close friend DeMar DeRozan (10) in Sacramento, the true drama spans from Fox’s trade to the Spurs.
Sacramento began the season with a negative record, forcing the front office to fire head coach Mike Brown and reasonably sparking criticism from Kings fans and NBA spectators. Despite the dramatic exit, Brown’s impact on the city remains unforgettable, leading Sacramento to their first playoff appearance in 19 years and winning Coach Of the Year in 2023. Fox’s tenure at Sacramento came into question with DeRozan’s arrival, the franchise would require a trade in order to open up cap space for the following season. Stuck with an almost impossible choice, the Kings front office chose to shed their 2017 first-round draftee in hopes of Lavine’s arrival raising the team chemistry. Fox’s trade to the Spurs pairs him alongside superstar sophomore Wembanyama, whose generational performance this season failed to bring wins for Alamo City. With Fox’s blistering pace, quick hands and a consistent three-point shot, San Antonio stands to hold one of the top offensive and defensive abilities in the league.
“I think the De’Aaron Fox trade was perfect for the Spurs. The Kings haven’t really gone anywhere good in the last 20 years, so Fox would be wasting his talents there. Zach Lavine is coming towards the later stages of his career so he will probably be out of the league in the next two years. Pairing someone the likes of Wembanyama with an aging Chris Paul was already a good move, but getting someone as young as Fox alongside him will set the Spurs up for a deep playoff run,” junior Maxwell Thuo said.
With the NBA season already showcasing an unfathomable shift, as the Eastern Conference closes down the gap between itself and the West and individually, the league MVP ladder has shrunk down to only three options. Competition increasing this season proves to serve as the final straw for multiple teams. While only two trades managed to shift the status quo, additional rumors arise in multiple cities: Jimmy Butler’s situation in Miami raises questions over his destination, with the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors battling for Butler’s signature. Every team in the league hopes to find that final piece that could propel them to championship contention and hopefully hang the banner up on the ceiling.
