In one of the most stunning trades in recent NBA history, the Los Angeles Lakers sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for superstar Luka Doncic.
The deal, masterminded by Lakers GM Rob Pelinka and Mavs executive Nico Harrison, shook the basketball world, but left many wondering how such a monumental decision impacted the relationships behind the scenes.
Lakers controlling owner Jeanie Buss revealed on SiriusXM NBA Radio that she has yet to speak to Davis since the February trade.
“I haven’t seen him face to face, and I look forward to in the offseason,” Buss said. “But you have to remember, he’s now under contract to another team. We have had too many instances of people accusing us of tampering, so I have to be really careful of stuff like that.”
Buss, known for her longstanding relationships with Lakers stars past and present, said she’s intentionally avoiding any communication that could potentially be interpreted as tampering, given the league’s history of doling out hefty fines for even indirect infractions.
The deal nearly hinged on secrecy
The deal itself came together in near silence. Buss approved the trade quickly once presented with the framework, but she admits that everything could have unraveled if word had leaked before it was official.
Had that happened, the ripple effect could have impacted negotiations, player morale, or even the NBA’s front-office trust circle. Instead, the trade went through cleanly, sending “Luka Magic” to Los Angeles, where he now shares the court with LeBron James in what many hope is a new golden era for the purple and gold.
Davis helped lead the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship and had built a strong bond with the franchise and its leadership. With the offseason approaching, that conversation between Buss and Davis is likely to happen.
For now, Buss and the Lakers are focused on this new chapter-with Doncic as the centerpiece of a franchise once again chasing banners.
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