The Los Angeles Lakers absolutely stole Luka Doncic away from the Dallas Mavericks in a move that continues to infuriate Mavericks fans and baffle those around the NBA over two months later. LA getting a generational superstar before he hits what’s supposed to be his prime for an aging Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick is an absurd lopsided trade.
Among the many criticisms of the trade for the Mavericks is why didn’t they get more? ESPN’s Brian Windhorst shed some light on it with a podcast appearance with Bill Simmons (around the 2:22:00 mark). Maveric
“In my mind, [the Mavericks] should’ve gotten [Austin] Reaves and the other first-round pick and the pick swap. They should’ve gotten all of it. What’s been said, when Jeanie Buss heard about this, she said, ‘We’re not trading [Reaves].’ I’m sure Rob Pelinka didn’t want to trade him either, I’m not saying Rob wanted to… The excuse that comes out is that Jeanie Buss said ‘Austin Reaves is not being traded,’ and I’m like, ‘OK, hang up the phone. We’re trading you Luka Doncic, you give us what we want.’… I disagree with the trade, because as critical as I’ve been of Luka, I recognize he’s a top 10 player, top 5, top three, whatever you want to say. You dream of having a player like that.”
Austin Reaves has broken out as a star this season, averaging 20.2 PPG, 5.8 APG, and 4.5 RPG. He’s good enough to control the offense when Luka Doncic and/or LeBron James are off the floor and he can create his own offense.
Had the Mavericks gotten a package of Davis, Reaves, Christie, and both tradeable firsts the Lakers had available, it wouldn’t ease the pain of losing a player as beloved as Doncic, but it at least gives them more options and a better future. Playmaking was a disaster for the Mavs after the trade even with Kyrie Irving, so having a player like Reaves could’ve helped ease Irving’s burden, and maybe he doesn’t go down with the ACL injury in March because of it.
