The Ultimate Price: Why The Lakers Traded Anthony Davis For Luka Dončić And The Shocking Long-Term Impact

The trade that shook the NBA world in 2019—sending Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers—was a franchise-altering gamble that delivered an immediate NBA Championship. However, the story of the "Brow" in purple and gold is now complete, culminating in a second, even more shocking blockbuster trade that redefined the Lakers' future. As of this December 17, 2025, the fallout from the monumental swap that brought Slovenian superstar Luka Dončić to Los Angeles is still reverberating across the league, completely overshadowing the original deal with the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Lakers' willingness to move a certified champion and Defensive Player of the Year candidate like Davis, especially after his massive contract extension was signed in 2023, was a clear signal: the franchise is fully committed to a new championship timeline. This article dives deep into the full lifecycle of the Anthony Davis trade saga, from the initial, costly acquisition to the ultimate, jaw-dropping decision to trade him for a generational talent.

Luka Dončić: Biography and The Shocking New Face of the Lakers

The centerpiece of the latest trade involving Anthony Davis is Luka Dončić, the prodigious guard who now carries the weight of the Lakers' legendary expectations. His journey to Los Angeles is a testament to his global superstar status and the Lakers’ relentless pursuit of elite talent.

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• Full Name: Luka Dončić
• Date of Birth: February 28, 1999
• Place of Birth: Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Nationality: Slovenian
• Height: 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
• Position: Point Guard / Small Forward
• Pre-NBA Career: Real Madrid (Spain) (2015–2018)
• NBA Draft: 2018 (3rd overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks, traded to Dallas Mavericks)
• NBA Career Highlights: NBA Rookie of the Year, Multiple-time All-NBA First Team selection, Multiple-time NBA All-Star.
• Acquisition by Lakers: February 2025, via trade from the Dallas Mavericks.

Dončić's arrival marked the end of an era and the beginning of another. The Slovenian superstar, known for his exceptional court vision, clutch shooting, and high-usage playmaking, instantly became the focal point of the Lakers' offense. His initial reaction to the trade was one of "big shock," even admitting he "shattered his cell phone" upon hearing the news, though he later expressed excitement to join the storied franchise.

The Original Blockbuster: Pelicans to Lakers (2019)

To fully understand the magnitude of the 2025 trade, one must revisit the original deal that brought Anthony Davis to Los Angeles. This move, spearheaded by General Manager Rob Pelinka and driven by the presence of LeBron James, was a clear "all-in" move for immediate contention.

The Los Angeles Lakers traded a significant portion of their young core and future draft capital to the New Orleans Pelicans in June 2019. The cost was staggering, demonstrating the premium placed on acquiring a top-10 player in his prime:

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Lakers’ Outgoing Assets:

• Players: Lonzo Ball (Point Guard), Brandon Ingram (Forward), Josh Hart (Guard)
• Draft Capital: Three future first-round picks (unprotected and protected) and one first-round pick swap.

The trade was an undisputed success in the short term. The pairing of Davis and James delivered the 2020 NBA Championship in the Orlando Bubble, fulfilling the ultimate promise of the deal. Davis was instrumental, providing elite two-way play, including a pivotal defensive anchor role and consistent scoring. However, the long-term cost was the depletion of the team's young talent and future flexibility, which ultimately set the stage for the next monumental decision.

Brandon Ingram, in particular, flourished with the Pelicans, earning All-Star honors and proving the value of the assets the Lakers sacrificed. This dual success—a title for the Lakers and star development for the Pelicans—made the 2019 trade one of the most debated "win-win" deals in modern NBA history.

The Unthinkable Swap: Davis to Mavericks for Dončić (2025)

The most current and consequential chapter in the Anthony Davis trade saga unfolded in February 2025. This shocking three-team deal saw the Lakers pivot dramatically, moving on from their championship-winning co-star to acquire a younger, high-usage superstar in Luka Dončić.

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The full trade details revealed the sheer scale of the transaction:

Los Angeles Lakers Received:

• Luka Dončić (Guard/Forward)
• Maxi Kleber (Forward)
• Markieff Morris (Forward)

Dallas Mavericks Received:

• Anthony Davis (Center/Forward)
• Max Christie (Guard)
• 2029 First-Round Pick (Unprotected)

The Utah Jazz also played a small, but crucial, part in facilitating the deal, acquiring young guard Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2025 second-round pick from the Clippers.

The rationale for the Lakers was simple: youth and playmaking. With LeBron James nearing the end of his illustrious career, acquiring the 26-year-old Dončić provided a seamless transition to the next era of Lakers dominance. Dončić's ability to consistently generate offense and his relatively clean injury history compared to Davis offered a more stable long-term foundation for the franchise. General Manager Rob Pelinka, praised by some as a "genius" for his bold move, secured a new, long-term superstar.

For the Dallas Mavericks, the move was a high-risk, high-reward proposition. Reports suggested Dončić's relationship with the Mavericks' front office, including GM Nico Harrison, had "eroded over time," making a trade necessary despite his talent. The Mavericks banked on Anthony Davis's defensive prowess and his ability to pair with Kyrie Irving to create a potent, veteran-led contender, hoping to mitigate his recurring injury concerns.

The Long-Term Impact and Future Draft Capital

The 2025 trade has a profound long-term impact on both franchises. For the Lakers, acquiring Luka Dončić has secured their post-LeBron future. The team now possesses one of the NBA's premier talents, ensuring competitive relevance for the next decade. The addition of Maxi Kleber also provided immediate, much-needed frontcourt depth and shooting.

However, the trade further depleted the Lakers' future draft capital, sending out another valuable first-round pick in 2029. This means the Lakers have now sacrificed multiple first-rounders across the 2019 and 2025 trades—a clear indication of the franchise's philosophy to prioritize star talent over draft assets.

For the Mavericks, the trade is a massive bet on the health and commitment of Anthony Davis. If Davis remains healthy, the combination of his interior defense and Irving's elite scoring could make them an immediate title threat in the Western Conference. Conversely, if injuries continue to plague Davis, the Mavericks will have sacrificed their generational superstar for a short-term gamble.

Ultimately, the story of the "lakers trade for anthony davis" is a two-part epic. It began as the ultimate championship catalyst in 2019, but it concluded in 2025 as the necessary sacrifice to secure the next great Lakers superstar, proving that in the NBA, no player—even a champion—is truly untouchable when a talent like Luka Dončić becomes available.