Initially, the Los Angeles Lakers’ blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic didn’t make any sense.
While the franchise needed a competent point guard after trading D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets last December, no one expected it to sacrifice Anthony Davis to make it happen.
However, ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel’s latest report should help the public understand Los Angeles’ rationale behind the midseason transaction, as the notable NBA Insider revealed the ‘final straw’ that led to the deal.
“As the conversations between (Nico) Harrison and(Rob) Pelinka continued to progress and the dream of acquiring Doncic started to look like a real possibility for the Lakers, Pelinka, (Jeanie) Buss, and other key members of Los Angeles' front office began devising the logistics of the trade,” Siegel wrote Monday.
“If the Lakers needed any other reason to want to move Davis other than acquiring Doncic, they got it when his frustrations led the 10-time All-Star to make it clear to management that they needed to be willing to do what it takes to not only keep him healthy but also put the team in the best position to win a title during the 2024-25 season.”
“Multiple higher-ups in the Lakers organization took exception to Davis' words, which basically claimed they did not put the team in a position to succeed like they did during the team's championship run in 2020.”
“With conversations Pelinka held with Harrison already advancing and this relationship with Davis reaching a point of no return, the Lakers pulled the trigger on the historic trade.”
Davis didn’t do himself any favors by calling out the Lakers’ organization last season.
Relationships are everything in sports, especially at the professional ranks, and with Davis seemingly taking issue with Los Angeles' inability to make a move for another big man, the franchise felt they were no longer on good terms with the NBA champion forward.
Add in the fact that Davis has earned a reputation for missing extended time on the hardwood with serious lower-body injuries, and the Lakers suddenly possessed extra motivation to move on from the Kentucky product before the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.
Now that it’s well-documented that Davis and the Lakers have a damaged relationship, it’s unlikely the two parties will reunite with one another anytime soon.
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