The Dallas Mavericks appeared to be in a great position with Luka Doncic, who had led them to their first NBA Finals since 2011.

Nico Harrison reached out to the Minnesota Timberwolves in an attempt to acquire Anthony Edwards in exchange for DoncicLuka Doncic (Photo by Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images)
However, things took a drastic turn when Doncic suffered an injury during the Christmas Day game. The Mavericks then suddenly traded their franchise star to the Los Angeles Lakers, which even caught NBA Commissioner Adam Silver by surprise.

Before finalizing the trade with Los Angeles, the Mavericks explored other options. According to The Athletic, Dallas general manager Nico Harrison also reached out to the Minnesota Timberwolves in an attempt to acquire Anthony Edwards in exchange for Doncic. However, unlike the Mavericks, the Timberwolves had no intention of moving on from their young superstar.

“Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison reached out to the Timberwolves and asked if there was any chance they’d be willing to trade Edwards. He was promptly told no. The Timberwolves, league sources say, were stunned that Dallas was contemplating parting ways with Doncic,” the report revealed.
Luka DoncicLuka Doncic (Photo by Jason Parkhurst/Imagn Images)
The move stands out as one of the most shocking trades of the season. While Doncic’s injury was initially cited as a reason for the Mavericks losing faith in him, new reports suggest the organization also had concerns about his diet and conditioning. These factors may have contributed to their decision to move on from their former franchise player.

Despite the sudden trade, Doncic has already found his footing in Los Angeles. The 26-year-old star played in seven games for the Lakers. He averaged 21.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game till now in the Lakers jersey.

Luka Doncic Reflects On Life After Trade

Luka Doncic has been through a whirlwind of changes over the past year, from leading his former team to the NBA Finals to an unexpected blockbuster trade that sent him to Los Angeles. Following the Lakers’ 106-102 win over the Clippers, Doncic was asked to reflect on his eventful year.

“It’s all good. I’m happy. That’s all that matters. I have a little daughter. My family’s good, the people around me are good, so that’s everything I want,” Doncic replied.

Despite the sudden transition, Doncic has embraced his new environment and continues to shine on the court. Doncic finished the game against the Clippers with 31 points, two rebounds, and five assists.