The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off one of the biggest and most shocking trades of the decade and arguably of the century. The Lakers shocked the NBA and sports world on Feb. 1 when they traded for international superstar Luka Dončić.
Dončić was traded in exchange for superstar center Anthony Davis. It was a move no one saw coming, as Dončić was expected to be the face of the franchise for the Dallas Mavericks.
However, the Mavericks had different feelings towards the Slovenian star behind closed doors, and that became evident after they dealt him to L.A.
Although we are only three months into the year, the Lakers were given a prestigious award for the blockbuster trade. On Saturday, at the Sloan Analytics Conference, L.A. was presented with an Alpha Award for Transaction of the Year across all sports for their trade for the 26-year-old superstar.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin shared the news via X.
The Lakers pulled off a trade that will not only help them this season, raising their ceiling for an NBA title, but one that could help them for the next decade.
Dončić is a talent who could be the face of the franchise for L.A. to lead them into the next chapter of Lakers basketball. The Lakers franchise is known for its star power, and Dončić fits that mold.
Add the fact that his teammate is future Hall of Famer LeBron James, who is still playing at a high level, and it’s even more astonishing that Dončić is a Laker.
While the trade took place more than a month ago, some are still shocked and applauded by it. Mavericks fans were livid by the trade, taking out their anger on the ownership and general manager, Nico Harrison.
It’s a move that many do not understand and never will due to the fact that Dončić is in his prime, who the Mavericks traded him to, and the amount they received back for him. Dončić, who could have gone for at least four first-round picks and then some, was only traded for one unprotected first-round pick.
What’s done is done, and now the Lakers will look to take complete advantage with Dončić on their side and make sure he finishes his career in the purple and gold.
