As Anthony Davis prepares for his return to the Mavericks this season, he recently spoke to the media about his feelings after the blockbuster trade from the Lakers. While most reports claim that nobody but Nico Harrison and Rob Pelinka knew about the deal, Davis isn’t entirely sold.
“Everybody’s saying nobody knew and all this other sh*t. I just don’t believe it,” Davis said, via the LA Times. “But, hey man, I’m past that. I’m ready to move forward with Dallas, try to get a championship there with these guys.”
Davis, 31, had spent six straight years with the Lakers and even helped them win the title in 2020. Alongside LeBron James, he was co-leading the team and he had plans to take over as the team’s next leading star. Now, Davis will be working for the Mavericks and his first goal is to get back on the court with his team.
“First off, getting back on the floor and get ready to compete. All the emotions, that sh*t lasted that night when it was just a shock.”
Davis was blindsided by the deal, as was Luka Doncic who had reportedly wanted to spend his career in Dallas. Over a few weeks, however, private conversations developed into negotiations which eventually led to the trade.
To say it was shocking is an understatement to most people, but the idea that nobody but Nico and Rob Pelinka knew it was happening seems like a stretch. Lakers owner Jeanie Buss almost surely knew ahead of time, as her approval would be essential to Pelinka making such a risky trade.
It also seems likely that LeBron James knew something was in the works. He and Davis have the same agent (Rich Paul) and have remained close friends after the trade. Plus, LeBron’s word carries too much weight for the Lakers not to consult him on trading Anthony Davis — the defensive cornerstone of a championship team.
Ultimately, we’ll never know for sure how much thought went into the Luka Doncic trade. As such a young and accomplished player, you can bet the Mavericks did not give him up lightly, but there have been complaints about his condition going back years.
In the case of Anthony Davis (31), there were no signs at all that the Lakers were considering giving him up, but when Pelinka saw an opportunity to acquire one of the best young guards in the league, he just couldn’t pass it up.
Now that the shock has worn off, AD is ready to make his mark and prove to Mavericks fans that the best is yet to come. While he looked great in his debut (26.0 points, 16.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks in 31 minutes), Davis hasn’t been available for the team as he deals with a left adductor strain.
As the Mavs fight to stay out of the play-in, the Lakers are vying for the second-best seed in the West (35-21) and it’s a reminder of how much things have changed for Davis.
His entire trajectory turned overnight without so much as a warning and he had to quickly move on to keep up with the season. Somehow, he’s been nothing but professional through it all and he’s already embraced his new role on his new team.
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