There are bad trades, and then there’s whatever the hell the Dallas Mavericks just did.
In a move that makes you question if Mark Cuban was hypnotized by LeBron James over Zoom, the Mavericks have traded Luka Freaking Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony "My Body is Made of Glass" Davis, Max Christie (who?), and a 2029 first-round pick that will probably turn into an AI-generated player from NBA 2K30.
This isn’t just bad—it’s historically dumb. Like, “Investing your life savings in Hoc Tuah Coin and buying the dip” level dumb. I haven't seen a bigger ripoff since the Fushigi. Rest in peace David Stern cause he would have certainly Vetoed this trade Let’s break down why this is quite possibly the most brain-dead trade of all time.
Luka Dončić: A Franchise Savior, Given Away Like a Free Sample at Costco
Luka Dončić isn’t just good—he’s a generational talent. This man walked into the NBA as a teenager and started handing out 30-point triple-doubles like Oprah giving away cars. He was the future of the Mavericks, the heart of the team, and the one guy keeping Dallas relevant in a Western Conference full of juggernauts.
He’s 25. Twenty-five. You don’t trade a 25-year-old superstar unless he personally requests to be sent to space. But instead of building around Luka, the Mavericks have effectively said,
"You know what? We’d rather build around a guy whose bones sound like bubble wrap every time he lands after a dunk."
Based on age and skill I would have thought the only NBA assets more tradeable than Luka were Jokic, Wemby, and maybe Jason Tatum. Glass Bones Anthony Davis wouldn't even sniff the top ten on my list.
Anthony Davis: The Human Injury Report
Look, Anthony Davis is incredibly talented. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the best big men in the league. But that’s like saying that that my Wifes Boyfriend is great, except for when he makes me sleep on the couch.
Davis hasn’t played a full season since Blockbuster was still in business. Every time he falls to the ground, fans hold their breath like they just watched someone drop their iPhone face-first on the concrete. The only thing more fragile than AD’s knees is the Mavericks’ championship hopes after this trade.
They swapped a durable, young, MVP-caliber superstar for a guy whose best ability is “he the 4th best Center in the league, when available.” Make it make sense.
The Trade Package: A Used Napkin and a Participation Trophy
Dallas didn’t just trade Luka for AD straight up (which would have been bad enough). Oh no, they also graciously accepted Max Christie (congrats, you got a role player!) and a 2029 first-round pick.
2029. By the time this pick conveys, we might have robot referees, a four-point line, and Bronny James the third might be in the league.
By then, the Mavericks could be rebuilding from this disaster of a trade with a middle aged Davis, wondering why they ever thought it was a good idea to swap a once-in-a-lifetime player for **a first-round pick that isn’t even out of middle school yet. Not to mention Luka will only be 30 so you cant even assume that the Lakers will be bad by then.
Dallas Fans Deserve Better
Mavericks fans have been through it. They had to endure the Kristaps Porziņģis "Unicorn" experiment (spoiler: it sucked), and now, after FINALLY getting a legitimate superstar, they just yeeted him away like a bad fantasy basketball trade.
Dallas should have been building a dynasty around Luka. Instead, they’ve built a retirement home for injury-prone big men. What’s next? Signing Derrick Rose and Greg Oden just to complete the collection?
Conclusion: The Mavericks are idiots and they Lakers should be booked for Grand Theft
The Lakers have a long history of absolutely robbing teams in trades, and this might be their greatest heist yet. They just got Luka Dončić—the future of basketball—in exchange for a player they were probably ready to trade for a ham sandwich.
This trade will go down as one of the worst in NBA history. Years from now, when Luka is winning rings in Los Angeles and the Mavericks are picking 12th in the draft wondering what went wrong, fans will look back at this moment and scream into the void.
Congratulations, Dallas. You just made the worst trade of all time.