The Portland Trail Blazers were well ahead late in the fourth quarter of their 127-108 win over the Phoenix Suns Saturday night at the Moda Center when the trade news that rocked the NBA broke.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported at 9:12 p.m. that a three-team deal had been agreed upon, sending Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for All-Star center Anthony Davis.
The news spread around the Moda Center and landed on the benches for both teams, leaving players and coaches in disbelief.
After the game, Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said Suns guard Damion Lee talked to players on the Blazers’ bench about the trade during a break in the action.
“We had already known by then,” Billups said. “Some of the coaches behind the bench were talking about it.”
Billups first heard that Doncic had been traded to the Lakers. His first thought: “For who?”
“Then obviously, you find out it’s AD,” Billups said.
The detail, as outlined by Charania:
Lakers receive: Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris.
Mavericks receive: Anthony Davis, Max Christie, 2029 first-round pick.
Jazz receive: Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2025 second-round pick from Lakers (via the Clippers), 2025 second-round pick from Mavericks.
Normally, an NBA trade wouldn’t be talked about in that manner during a game. But an NBA team rarely trades a player of Doncic’s caliber and age (25).
“I think most people are still kind of in disbelief to see a guy of his magnitude be traded right now,” Billups said. “And obviously to the Lakers.”
The seventh-year guard has been named first-team All-NBA five times and led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season.
Adding to the shock of the deal was the secrecy. In a league that loves trade-rumor drama, there were zero prior leaked reports that the Mavericks were shopping Doncic. Or, that the Lakers were seeking to trade Davis, a nine-time All-Star.
“It’s an interesting move,” Billups said. “A team that went to the finals. But we’ll see how it plays out.”
In the Blazers’ locker room, center Deandre Ayton said he was in disbelief when he heard about the trade during the game and thought someone was messing with him.
Ayton said his shock reminded him of when he played for the Suns two seasons ago and they traded several players to the Brooklyn Nets for Kevin Durant at the 2023 trade deadline.
But Durant-to-Phoenix had been at least rumored since the summer of 2022. It appears that nobody outside of the Lakers and Mavericks had an inkling this deal was being discussed. Reportedly, not even Lakers star LeBron James knew.
The secrecy and trade left forward Jerami Grant in disbelief.
“It’s insane,” Grant said. “That’s the NBA.”
Blazers forward Toumani Camara also heard teammates and coaches discuss the trade during the game.
“Trades are always crazy,” Camara said. “It’s never something that you’re gonna expect. It’s a crazy scenario. Let’s see how it plays out.”
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, who scored 37 points in the loss, was clearly caught off guard by the trade.
“It’s crazy,” Booker told reporters. “I really don’t know what to say about it. Luka is a guy that everybody claimed is untouchable and untradeable. The NBA shows you again … You can’t predict it. It’s a business. They’re always having a conversation about you. So, don’t think you’re safe at any point.”
Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball defended by Deandre Ayton #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on December 08, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)Getty Images
Suns forward Kevin Durant said: “I would have never thought Luka Doncic would get traded at this age, midseason. The NBA is a wild place. If he can get traded, anybody is up for grabs.”
The Blazers had completed their schedule against the Mavericks, going 1-3. Doncic missed Portland’s 126-122 win on Dec. 28, and the Mavericks’ 117-111 win at home on Jan. 9.
The Blazers, 0-2 against the Lakers, face them twice more this season at home on Feb. 20 and April 13.
“We’ll have to plan for Luka and LeBron,” Billups said. “How about that? It’s pretty crazy. But, we’ll see them when we get there.”
— Aaron Fentress | [email protected] | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)