Mavericks Wanted Anthony Davis, Dalton Knecht, And Multiple FRPs; Rob Pelinka Convinced Nico Harrison That Luka’s A Health Risk

Nico Harrison got completely out-negotiated by Rob Pelinka on the Luka Doncic deal.

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Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Over the weekend, the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers completed arguably the most stunning trade in NBA history. Luka Doncic went to LA, and Anthony Davis came to Dallas, in a trade that still feels inconceivable to many. Many were shocked that a 25-year-old superstar like Doncic only brought the Mavs a first-round pick and Max Christie alongside Davis.

Kirk Goldsberry revealed that Nico Harrison initially intended to get Dalton Knecht and the Lakers’ 2031 first-round pick also, but Rob Pelinka managed to convince Harrison that Luka’s health and drinking habits meant the Lakers couldn’t include those assets.

“There were two firsts and there was Dalton Knecht. The deal got whittled down, because I think Rob Pelinka was able to convince the Mavs that Luka is a lot of risk. ‘You guys are right to look at this way because, this guy, oh, his drinking, his weight problem,’ so they were able to convince them.”

“This was a week’s long process and Dallas started it. This fell in Rob Pelinka’s lap and he managed to reduce the Lakers outbound assets.”

How did Harrison let himself get played like a fiddle? His motivation might have just been to get Luka off the squad at any cost, with this seeming like a genuinely personal situation. 

Even if Harrison didn’t like Luka on the squad, to let yourself get played like this when it comes to ascertaining the value of your franchise star is horrific work by a GM.

The Lakers now not only have Luka Doncic on their roster, but they also control more of their future picks than the Mavericks do over the next seven years. The Mavs have control over just their 2025 and 2031 pick, with all the picks in the middle having been promised to other teams as they built a contender around Luka. 

The Lakers have only given up control of their 2025, 2027, and 2029 first-round picks. The Hawks get their 2025 pick, the Jazz get their 2027 pick, and the Mavericks get their 2029 pick. They can still trade their 2031 pick unprotected for an upgrade which also controls their pick swaps in 2026, 2028, and 2030. The Lakers can easily load up once again but with Doncic as the north star to build around.


Both Teams Looking For Additional Deals

The Lakers will be hunting the market for an athletic center from now until Thursday, as the squad has absolutely no playable center to maximize Doncic’s ability as a playmaker. Given what Luka did with Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford in Dallas, acquiring a center like Nicolas Claxton at any cost should be the No. 1 priority for a Lakers squad that could compete for a title.

The Mavericks have to find a way to address their lack of creation without Doncic. Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Jaden Hardy are all scorers before they’re floor-setters, so the Mavs might need to find a point guard so they can continue playing alongside Kyrie. Outside that, the Mavs have a pretty deep roster right now which can be consolidated into specific players that can help them win this season.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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