Since the blockbuster deal on Feb. 1 that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks and Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, all eyes have been on the two franchises to see who won the trade. After the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers were eliminated, while the Mavericks failed to make the playoffs entirely.
While several people within the NBA have their opinions of the deal, the perspective of Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul is very relevant given his relationships with both sides. He is the agent of Davis and 21-time All-Star LeBron James, who were separated by this trade.
On NBA Insider Chris Haynes’ podcast, Paul made an appearance to discuss the trade. Among other things, Paul had a clear message on the decisions LA must now make to build around Doncic. He said the same for Dallas and Davis.
“It’s the race of the front offices,” said Paul. “Who’s going to make the proper moves for each one of those guys to be successful? As much as you want to lean on how great an individual was and or is, you also have to factor in the decision makers to help place the proper pieces around them.”
Both teams made attempts to add pieces to surround their newly acquired superstars with more help before the trade deadline. The Mavericks traded away 2021 first-round pick Quentin Grimes for a more established role player, Caleb Martin. This trade backfired immediately, as Grimes went on to double his points per game with the 76ers, and Martin played in just 14 games with the Mavericks, averaging his second-lowest points per game.
The Lakers attempted to trade for a young center, Mark Williams, to complement Doncic’s playmaking style. However, the trade was rescinded due to a failed physical by Williams; this failed trade ended up being essential in LA’s inability to make the second round of the playoffs.
As Paul emphasized, the decisions the Lakers make going forward will go a long way toward deciding how history looks back on the Doncic trade.
