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When the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA community was stunned. Why would a franchise give up a 25-year-old superstar—already a five-time All-NBA First Teamer—at the height of his powers? While the organization has given various reasons, most of them seem like smokescreens. Let’s break down the real story and what it means for those making player prop bets.
This one is straight out of the “best NBA prop bets” playbook of lazy narratives. Team governor Patrick Dumont suggested that Luka lacked the work ethic of legends like Jordan or Kobe. The implication? That Dončić wasn’t championship material. But let’s look at the numbers.
Luka is currently averaging 27.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game with the Lakers—elite numbers by any standard. He has more seasons of 25-8-7 stat lines than anyone in NBA history, even Oscar Robertson. His playoff résumé includes taking multiple Dallas teams deeper than they had any business going.
If this is what out of shape looks like, every franchise would love a Luka.
BS Meter: 100%
Yes, defense is vital. But does that mean you trade your generational offensive engine for an aging rim protector and a single first-round pick? Nico Harrison apparently thought so.
But even last season, the Mavericks were a top-10 defensive team. With P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford surrounding Luka and Kyrie, Dallas had all the defensive pieces. Trading away the offensive core of your system undermines that strategy completely.
It’s clear: Dončić was already thriving in a defensively competent system.
BS Meter: 100%
Let’s talk business. Luka was eligible for a five-year, $345.3 million supermax extension. For the new owners—Patrick Dumont and Miriam Adelson—that figure may have been too steep. But if you want to win in the NBA, you have to pay your stars.
With the new $76 billion TV deal, these contracts are essentially accounted for. The hesitation to offer a max extension isn’t strategy—it’s inexperience.
BS Meter: Slowing Down
Some fans believe the trade was orchestrated to boost Lakers ratings. Others say Nico Harrison’s old ties to Nike and Kobe Bryant influenced the move. There's even a Vegas relocation theory. But without solid proof, these remain far-fetched.
BS Meter: Pretty Full of It
Here’s the likely truth. Dumont and Adelson are new to the NBA. Harrison is still a young executive in terms of experience. Put those ingredients together and you get a perfect storm of bad assumptions and even worse decisions.
Trading Luka Dončić may go down as one of the worst moves in league history. It’s the kind of misstep that shifts the balance of power and affects everything from playoff brackets to player prop bets for years to come.
Luka joins a Lakers legacy that includes Wilt, Kareem, Shaq, and LeBron—players who all won titles after switching teams. If you're making the best player props today, you better believe Luka is back on your radar.