The Los Angeles Lakers appear to have benefited most from what is now viewed as a major franchise error when back on February 2025, the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic for a package led by Anthony Davis.
Hours after Dallas dismissed general manager Nico Harrison, who approved the trade, the Lakers posted one of Doncic‘s highlights from their win over the Charlotte Hornets, as the caption on the post read simply: “THREW IT DOWN.”
Doncic scored 38 points, six rebounds, and seven assists in the Lakers’ 121-111 win over Charlotte on November 7 to continue to prove why he is arguably the best player in the entire league.
The 26-year-old guard has been dominant for Los Angeles. He is averaging 37.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game. His production has guided the Lakers to an 8-3 record and fourth place in the Western Conference standings.
The Lakers have also claimed five victories in their past six games. Without LeBron James, Doncic has established himself as the clear focal point of the offense and the franchise’s new long-term leader on the court.
The performance came one day before Dallas fired Harrison after the team’s poor start to the new NBA season.
Los Angeles next faces the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 12 at the Paycom Center. The matchup tips off at 21:30 ET/18:30 PT as the Lakers aim for their ninth win of the season against the 10-1 defending champions.
Key Mavericks staff issues statement over Doncic exit
The Mavericks have declined sharply since the trade as the team holds a 3-8 record, ranking 14th in the Western Conference with the acquired Anthony Davis missing most of the season with a calf strain, playing in only five games so far.
In those limited appearances, he has averaged 20.8 points and 10.2 rebounds but despite his numbers, Dallas continues to struggle defensively and offensively, falling out of early playoff contention in the West standings.
And the Mavericks’ team owner Patrick Dumont appeared to acknowledge the error during a recent home game.
“He said,” Dumont recalled of Nico Harrison, the man behind trading Luka. “He was trying to do what’s best for the organization,”
“And, ‘Sometimes you have good intentions and you make mistakes.’ We all do it.”
A teenage fan told The Dallas Morning News that Dumont made the comment after the fan apologized for insulting him at a previous game, an exchange that has circulated widely among local supporters since the report appeared.
Dallas failed to reach the playoffs last year and has continued to regress under new management and the firing of general manager Nico Harrison this week highlights growing dissatisfaction within the Mavericks organization.
The Mavericks will host the Phoenix Suns on November 12 at the American Airlines Center. Tip-off is set for 20:30 ET/17:30 PT as the team enters what fans and analysts are calling the beginning of the “Cooper Flagg era.”
Read the full article here
