Greetings, basketball-loving travelers!

As most NBA fans, I have been in shock since reading it for the first time: LUKA DONČIĆ TRADED TO THE LAKERS FOR ANTHONY DAVIS.

Yeah... What??!!

Images throughout the post from official divulgation of the NBA, NBPA, LA Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Lebron, Luka and/or AD if not otherwise stated. Header made using Canva.

Okay, so first things first, I am a Laker fan, and have been since a child. I remember growing up really small, when watching Space Jam, and thinking that MJ had played for the Bulls and my Lakers... But it was in 2009, when the Lakers and Kobe Bryant won after losing to our biggest rivals in the previous year, that I decided to really follow the purple and gold all season long.

I eventually spent a lot of my savings to watch Kobe play in his last season, during the year of 2016, to watch his last match agains the Boston Celtics in the one-and-only Staples Center. I cried a lot during that sad day that we lost him and Gigi.

I've been a fan of Luka since he got to the NBA as a star kid from the Euroleague. Having won a lot in Real Madrid, my expectations were high, but I couldn't imagine how much success he would eventually reach. And now he's a Laker. And he honored the memory of the Black Mamba and his Girl. I feel like he's starting off with the right foot.

Clearly DALL·E 3 still struggles a lot with creating images with text right, but I really liked this style as a base for me myself creating a logo for this name I created, TUTS8RYANT24.

And, hoping that this will happen more in the future, I decided to adopt this name to my post series here about my great Lakers!

Okay, so for the specifics of the negotiation: in one of the most shocking midseason moves in NBA history, the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks executed a blockbuster, three‐team trade that saw 25‑year‑old superstar Luka Dončić head to Los Angeles while veteran Anthony Davis landed in Dallas. Alongside the swap of the two All-Stars, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris also went to LA, while Dallas also got Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick; the Utah Jazz facilitated the trade by acquiring Jalen Hood-Schifino and two second-round picks in 2025.

via buckets instagram

The Lakers, already in a transitional phase after the LeBron James era began to wind down, now add a generational playmaker in Dončić. As reported by Shams Charania in the New York Post, the move came as a complete shock—with even the players learning about it only after it was finalized . Analysts note that acquiring a dynamic offensive star like Luka not only bolsters their marketing and international appeal but also provides the long‑term cornerstone needed in a post‑LeBron era. However, the trade leaves Los Angeles with a significant defensive void; without Davis anchoring the interior, they are now scrambling to find a suitable center to complement Dončić’s ball‑dominant style.

I've read that some people stated that the Lakers sacrificed their 2025 season winning chances by letting go of their defensive anchor in AD and betting on constructing a future around Luka for the next years. But I don't know travelers, maybe these people might be surprised...

The Dallas side of the deal was built around an urgent need to improve on defense and win immediately, as emphasized by Mavericks GM Nico Harrison. Initially, the trade was reported to be even more Dallas‑friendly—offering additional assets such as Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht and extra draft picks—but was later whittled down, a point noted by MavsMoneyball. Harrison defended his decision by insisting, “defense wins championships", and believed that pairing Anthony Davis with Kyrie Irving would provide the defensive upgrade the team desperately needed. Still, critics across the league question whether trading away a franchise cornerstone like Dončić, who's still young at 25, while the big defender is about to turn 32.

Not that I am an NBA analyst, far from that, but my hot take as a Laker fan is that Dallas loses a lot in this trade, getting an aging AD that we respect a lot and are really grateful for what he accomplished, but that clearly has less fuel to burn than the European star. The Dallas GM Nico seems to have led the decision, and is thought to think that Luka was out-of-weight and his looming max contract extension was to much money for them. But generational talents are expensive, **specially ones that led you to THE FCKING NBA FINALS LESS THAN EIGHT MONTHS AGO! **

I wanted to put here Luka's goodbye message to Dallas, to help illustrate the context of it all. Luka stated that he did not know anything about the trade, and texted "Thanks for everything." in the chat group of the Mavs. (Source: Bleacher Report)

Please check out the artist Shion-M-Art on Instagram who created this amazing piece.

The art above, representing a manga version of Luka turning his blue Dallas jersey into Laker Gold, got me in a singular way. It still seems unbelievable.

Unfortunately, it seems unbelievable just like losing Kobe and Gigi. And Luka stated in his presentation interview, as you can see bellow in the ESPN Brasil reel, that (freely translated from tge Portuguese in the screenshot) he "just wanted that Kobe and Gigi were there to witness that moment."

I collected so many cool images from the past few days, since that singular and weird last Saturday night, that I wanted to present them aswell. I thought having quotes from influential people from the NBA industry would fit well.

But before it, thanks for it all AD! You'll forever be remembered💜💛

Anthony Davis's Farewell to Lakers:

"I will always cherish the memories and friendships formed here."

(Source: New York Post)

LeBron James on Luka Dončić:

"He’s been my favorite player in the NBA for a while now."

(Source: ESPN)

David Aldridge, The Athletic:

"I've been covering the NBA for 37 years. Almost nothing that happens – deals, free agent signings, coach hirings/firings – rises to the level of, as the great Ben Bradlee used to call them, 'Holy S--t' stories. You just get used to the unexpected. This is a 'Holy S--t' trade."

Colin Cowherd, FOX Sports:

"While on the surface this trade doesn't make historical sense, considering Dončić's age and talent, the looming supermax extension and concerns about his conditioning might have pushed the Mavericks to make a move now rather than later."

LeBron James' Initial Reaction:

"I thought it was a hoax. I was like, 'What? That’s not real.'"

(Source: New York Post)

Screenshot from video from lakersalldayeveryday on Instagram

Ricky O'Donnell, SB Nation:

"This is a no-brainer for the Lakers. Pairing Dončić with LeBron James, even in the twilight of LeBron's career, gives them a dynamic duo that can compete immediately and sets them up for sustained success. For the Mavericks, trading a 25-year-old superstar is almost unheard of, and it's hard to see the logic unless there are deeper issues at play."

You know how important these Memes are for my generation, so here's my gift of two for you. The first above, credited to lakeshowyo via X, that show the white boy players evolution in LA, while bellow, Duo gives his take on the trade:

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Thanks for reading until here!

I know sometimes it's hard and it takes some time and effort, but if you got here, leave a comment! Maybe the team you root for in the NBA (or in another basketball league?) and/or your favorite player.

Happy and excited cheers from here!