The Lakers Get Their Star of the Future - And What Was Dallas Thinking?

After a convincing win last night against the Knicks in MSG, the Lakers brass decided their night was far from over.

In a move that has sent shockwaves throughout the NBA, the Lakers sent Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 1st round pick for Luka Doncic.

It is the first time that two All-NBA players have been traded for each other mid season in NBA history.

Even with there now being a gaping whole in the Lakers backcourt, this can’t be seen as anything less than a huge win for the Lakers.

The Lakers just got a top 5 player in the NBA who is just about to turn 26. Doncic was the key piece that lead the Mavericks to the Finals next year.

The Mavericks did get a great player in Anthony Davis, but he has been prone to injuries and is turning 32 in the near future.

Dallas shared that they were willing to trade Doncic due to his poor defense and lack of conditioning which has caused minor injuries in years past.

You know who would be the perfect mentor to teach proper conditioning and longevity? The greatest player of all time: LeBron James.

James has said numerous times that he would love to play with Doncic - and he will now finally get his chance.

Although this may hurt the Lakers in the short term, having gone 8-2 in their last 10 games, the Lakers have their star of the future.

The Lakers thought it would be Anthony Davis who would take the torch from LeBron once he retired, but they have found someone much younger.

The Lakers will certainly need to find a new center, but if they can before the deadline the Lakers could be the team in the Finals this year.

The Lakers have now gone from one of the oldest teams a few years ago with now only two players over 27.

The Mavericks on the other hand have three stars over 30 years old and are certainly in win now mode. It almost feels like they’ve given away their future.

This deal doesn’t guarantee anything, but I truly think it could set the Lakers up for success for years to come.