The NBA world was shaken on Saturday night when Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. In a surprising move, the Dallas Mavericks decided to part ways with their franchise superstar and generational talent, acquiring Anthony Davis in return.
This trade significantly alters the league’s landscape, particularly considering that Dallas had just reached the NBA Finals last season. The impact on the Western Conference is undeniable, with the Oklahoma City Thunder closely watching how things unfold.
The Thunder, who were eliminated by the Mavericks in last season’s playoffs, also lost their regular season series to Dallas this year—even in Doncic’s absence. Now, with Davis joining the Mavericks, the balance of power in the West is up for debate.
While the Lakers appear well-positioned for the future, the Mavericks’ decision to trade their star player raises questions. However, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith shared a bold perspective on Get Up, arguing that Dallas is now the top team in the Western Conference.
“I got Dallas as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference right now. … As great as [the OKC Thunder] have been, what has been their Achilles heel? … The Dallas Mavericks seem to be an Achilles heel for OKC,” Smith stated.
It’s clear that Dallas has had the upper hand against the Thunder, but calling them the best in the West is a bold claim—one that may not hold up. If there’s a top team in the conference, it likely isn’t the Mavericks.
Dallas had a generational talent poised to lead them for his entire career, much like Dirk Nowitzki before him, yet they let that opportunity slip away.
