Just shy of a year since Luka Dončić was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, the move is starting to look like one of the most lopsided deals in recent NBA history - and not in the way Dallas had hoped.
Let’s break it down. The Mavericks sent away a 26-year-old generational talent in Dončić - a player who was not only the face of the franchise but arguably one of the top three players in the world - in exchange for Anthony Davis.
Now, Davis is no slouch. When healthy, he’s one of the league’s best two-way bigs.
But that “when healthy” caveat has always been the issue. Davis, six years older than Luka, has struggled to stay on the floor consistently, and while his peak is elite, it’s fair to say he’s never quite reached the sustained apex that Dončić is currently operating at.
And here’s where the trade really starts to sting for Dallas: Luka isn’t just playing great - he’s dominating. He’s the engine of a Lakers team that’s firmly in the title conversation, putting up MVP-level numbers and controlling games with the kind of poise and vision that make him nearly impossible to defend. Meanwhile, the Mavericks are left with a star whose best days may be behind him and a roster that doesn’t look built to contend in the near future.
Now, there’s another trade that often gets brought up in the “worst of all time” conversation: the Clippers’ 2019 deal to land Paul George. That one cost them Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks, and two pick swaps.
In return, they got one conference finals appearance, a whole lot of injury frustration, and - as of this past offseason - no George at all. He walked in free agency, leaving the Clippers with nothing to show for the massive haul they gave up.
But here’s the difference: the Clippers were swinging big to build a contender around Kawhi Leonard. It didn’t work out, but the intention was clear - go all-in, win now.
The Mavericks, on the other hand, traded away a 26-year-old superstar in the middle of his prime. That’s not a win-now move.
That’s not a rebuild move. That’s a “we think Davis is on the same level as Luka” move - and that’s where things went sideways.
Nico Harrison, then the Mavericks’ GM, clearly saw Davis as a comparable piece to Dončić. But nearly a year later, it’s hard to defend that logic.
Dončić isn’t just better - he’s younger, more durable, and has a game that continues to evolve. He’s the type of player you build around for a decade, not the type you move for an aging star with a lengthy injury history.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder - the team that benefited from the Clippers’ gamble - are sitting at 21-1, one of the best starts in NBA history. That roster, built on the back of the George trade, is thriving.
They’ve already captured a championship and look poised for more. It’s a masterclass in asset accumulation and long-term vision.
You can debate which trade was worse: the Clippers mortgaging their future for a short-term swing that missed, or the Mavericks giving up a once-in-a-generation talent for a player on the decline. But at least the Clippers didn’t trade away their superstar in his prime.
For Dallas, the Luka deal is starting to look like a franchise-altering misstep - one that could haunt them for years to come.