Former Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis didn’t choose to depart the franchise in February.
The well-rounded 32-year-old big man was among the game-changing contributors who guided the Lakers to a championship in 2020, and likely believed he had more time to help Los Angeles secure another title.
However, general manager Rob Pelinka had other plans, as the 54-year-old joined forces with Nico Harrison (Dallas Mavericks’ general manager) to orchestrate a trade that no one saw coming (Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick to the Mavericks for Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris).
Unsurprisingly, though, the Mavericks fired Harrison after a 3-8 start to the current season (Nov. 11), and Davis didn’t take long to share his true feelings about the headline-worthy front-office move.
“Nico is my guy,” Davis told the Athletic’s Christian Clark on Thursday. “He played a huge part in getting me here and wanting me to fulfill his vision that he saw. It was definitely tough.”
“Me and him had a conversation. Me and (Mavericks governor) Patrick (Dumont) had a conversation. You know, it’s the business of basketball. Once I had those conversations, I was able to move forward.”
“This is basketball. “This is what comes with it. I think everybody in their career has been involved in trade talks. Been traded. Or some type of move. That doesn’t affect me. I’ve been in trade talks for a while. My job is to do what I do on the floor. Play basketball. Try to lead this team.”
Davis is 100% correct, as the Mavericks made a business move they believed would help their franchise reach new heights.
Harrison's likability doesn't change the fact that he executed the most nonsensical trade in NBA history, which led to Dallas firing the 52-year-old former Army guard.
With Dallas being somewhat dysfunctional early on, it’s only right to envision Davis pondering what could have been in Los Angeles if the Lakers hadn't parted ways with him a few months before the beginning of the postseason.
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