The Dallas Mavericks stunned everyone by pulling off an unexpected trade deadline blockbuster, sending Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. In return, the Mavericks received Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick, while the Lakers landed Dončić, Max Kleber, and Markieff Morris. Additionally, Danny Ainge’s Utah Jazz got involved as a third team, acquiring Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2025 second-round pick from both the Lakers and Mavericks, finalizing the deal. The news shook the league and had fans reeling, especially on a Sunday morning.
This trade, though shocking, highlighted the success of the Boston Celtics’ last major move—a three-team trade two offseasons ago, orchestrated by Brad Stevens, the Celtics’ president of basketball operations.
The Celtics traded Marcus Smart, Danilo Gallinari, Mike Muscala, and the 35th overall pick in the 2023 draft for Kristaps Porzingis, the 25th pick in the 2023 draft, and a 2024 unprotected first-round pick from the Golden State Warriors. The Memphis Grizzlies received Smart, and the Washington Wizards received Gallinari, Muscala, the No. 35 pick, and guard Tyus Jones.
At the time, the trade was met with mixed reactions. Porzingis, who had struggled with calf injuries in Washington, hadn’t played a full season in years, while Smart was coming off a year as the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year and was a fan favorite in Boston. However, Stevens made it clear that unless your name was Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, no one was safe.
The trade of Smart, once thought to be a core piece of the Celtics’ future, was initially seen as risky, but now, with the Dončić trade, it only highlights how well Stevens managed his assets. The Celtics received two first-round draft picks for Smart, a streaky but defensive-minded role player, which is twice as many as the Mavericks got for Dončić, a generational talent who has been an All-Star and All-NBA First-Team nominee every year of his career. Dončić is only 25 and hasn’t even reached his prime yet.
In contrast, the Mavericks’ decision to trade Dončić, for what appears to be questionable reasons, could prove to be a significant misstep. With the team’s future compromised, they now face the pressure of trying to win in a tight Western Conference window, especially with aging players like Kyrie Irving (32) and Davis (31), who could break down at any moment.
In the end, this trade exemplifies once again why “Big Brain Brad” Stevens isn’t a joke. His foresight and moves continue to impress, even when he’s not directly pulling the strings.
