The Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks just shocked the NBA world.
It’s not every day that you see two All-NBA players being swapped.
As a matter of fact, it was the first time that happened midseason.
To make it even more strange, reports indicate that Mavericks GM Nico Harrison didn’t even consider trading Luka Doncic anywhere else.
He just talked to the Lakers about a deal centered around Anthony Davis, and most analysts and fans argue that as good a player as Davis is, getting just one first-round pick in return for a 25-year-old superstar isn’t a good return.
With that in mind, Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report put together a list of potential trade packages that would’ve beaten the Lakers’ offer, including one from the Cavaliers:
“They have perhaps the best top four in the league with Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen. Dealing two of those four with a future first-round pick swap and a future first-round pick could’ve kept Dallas competitive while also juicing the stash of future assets a bit,” Bailey said.
As good as the Cavaliers have been this season, chances are that most fans would make that deal in a heartbeat.
Of course, there are more than enough reasons to love Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen, and the core four has been the best unit in the league this season.
Nevertheless, it’s not usual to have a chance to get a generational player like Luka Doncic.
At the end of the day, only time will tell if Nico Harrison did a good transaction or if the Lakers inadvertently got the best of him.
For now, it’s hard to believe the Mavs are in a better position than they were before making that trade.
As for the Cavs, there should be no shame in keeping this talented roster together anyway.
NEXT: Analyst Believes Cavs Veteran Was Snubbed For All-Star Game
