With the team trade deadline coming up for the National Basketball Association (NBA), most fans were not expecting the biggest trade in the history of basketball to occur on a random Saturday night. The whole league was amazed that the Dallas Mavericks traded away their star player, Luka Doncic, for the Los Angeles Lakers top Center, Anthony Davis. 

One of the primary factors that caught Dallas fans off guard was the importance that Doncic had for the team. He was such a primary piece of the Mavericks. Their General Manager, Mark Cuban, said, “If I had to choose between my wife and keeping Ouka on the Mavs, catch me at my lawyer’s office prepping for a divorce.” This is also the same player who is responsible for one-third of the organization’s finals appearances. 

Doncic’s departure from the Mavericks is going to cause a monumental shift in the team’s future. The superstar has been able to average nearly a triple-double in the past two seasons, causing everyone to believe he was an untradeable player.  This, however, was not the case and left many fans questioning whether acquiring Anthony Davis, a dominant but injury-prone center, was worth losing their generational talent. 

Lakers fans were also left equally as shocked as Davis played a significant role in securing their 2020 NBA championship for the team. Unfortunately, his frequent battle with injuries has caused many to question his availability. With the Laker’s new valuable player, however, they are now looking at a future built around Doncic, who has already proven himself as one of the best offensive talents in the league.

The lack of prior speculation was also another factor that caught fans so off guard. Usually, in the NBA, when a star player is suspected to be traded, rumors go around for for weeks before the deal is officially released to the public. In this recent trade, however, there were no signs that Luka Doncic wanted out of Dallas, especially since he never requested a trade.

This trade is one that will take time for both teams to see the payout. If Doncic progresses his development in Los Angeles and brings another championship to the Lakers, the trade will be seen as a franchise-defining moment. If Davis can remain healthy throughout his career in Dallas while being an important piece to them becoming title contenders, Dallas fans could potentially move past the devastation left behind.