The NBA world was stunned by the Dallas Mavericks’ stunning decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 2.
Doncic was fresh off an NBA Finals appearance with Dallas and was expected to eventually guide the franchise to its first championship since 2011.
However, the Mavericks felt inclined to move on from the five-time All-Star in favor of injury-prone center Anthony Davis.
With Dallas starting slow this season and possessing a bleak outlook in the post-Doncic era, the Mavericks elected to fire general manager Nico Harrison on Tuesday.
However, was Harrison actually the mastermind behind the most lopsided trade in NBA history? Fortunately, ESPN’s Shams Charania has the answer.
“It was Nico Harrison,” Charania told Stephen A. Smith when asked whose decision it was to cut ties with Doncic last season “It was Nico Harrison’s decision … pitch … idea, to trade Luka Doncic.”
The Lakers should be grateful that Harrison didn’t value Doncic in Dallas.
Los Angeles received a glimpse of what’s to come in Los Angeles last season, as Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game in 28 regular-season contests.
While the Lakers’ thin frontcourt unit ultimately doomed them in the postseason, the organization promptly addressed that issue during free agency (by signing DeAndre Ayton), and it’s paid dividends thus far (evidenced by their 8-3 start to the 2025-26 season).
It’s also worth noting that Doncic is on pace for the most productive campaign of his young career, as he’s pouring in 37.1 points per game to go along with 9.4 rebounds and 9.1 assists.
The physical, always under control point guard hasn’t played alongside LeBron James to start the new season (due to James' sciatica), which still instills fear into opponents who may have forgotten that the franchise has another superstar on its roster.
Throw Austin Reaves into the equation, and the Lakers possess a dynamic big three capable of challenging the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference.
It’s safe to say the Mavericks would give anything to switch places with the Lakers at this point.
More NBA: Lakers should acquire four-time NBA champion Mavericks guard after Nico Harrison's firing