Luka Doncic for Giannis Antetokounmpo or Anthony Edwards was possible ahead of blockbuster Lakers trade
Dallas Mavericks did not receive much in return from the Los Angeles Lakers for a 25-year-old generational talent in Luka Doncic.
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Dallas Mavericks asked for Giannis Antetokounmpo or Anthony Edwards for Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic has played his first game for the Los Angeles Lakers that saw fans pack Crypto.com Arena. That was the culmination of the blockbuster trade that brought him from of the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis. However, now it seems his former team looked at other destinations as well.
The trade was executed under so much secrecy that neither Doncic, nor his agent, or any other player or agent involved knew anything. GM Nico Harrison had allegedly started discussing the deal with his friend and Lakers GM Rob Pelinka a few weeks before at a coffee shop.
Such was the secrecy that they did not reveal to the Utah Jazz who they were trading for. They feared that the trade could be jeopardized. However, according to Gery Woelfel of Woelfel’s Press Box, some other teams knew about this.
According to one source, the Mavs reached out to the Bucks. But the Bucks made it clear to Mavs they wouldn’t trade Antetokounmpo. As for the Timberwolves, it’s only logical that any potential deal between the Mavs and Timberwolves would have included Anthony Edwards, their ascending 23-year-old superstar.
Gery Woelfel wrote
Those teams declined to entertain the possibility of giving up on their own franchise cornerstones for Luka Doncic. Had either of them agreed, it is possible that the five-time All-NBA 1st teamer would not be wearing purple and gold threads at the moment.
Mavericks did not get much from Lakers in Luka Doncic trade
Whenever one of the league’s best are available on the trade market, that pushes teams wanting to trade for them to be ready to give up a lot. For instance, the asking price for Jimmy Butler was a lot. Then Miami Heat president Pat Riley had to lower the asking price to get a trade through.
He eventually got a decent return in Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson. That is a return on a 35-year-old superstar who wanted to leave the Heat at all costs. The Sacramento Kings received Zach LaVine as well as three 1st round picks for De’Aaron Fox.
On the flip side, the Dallas Mavericks could have received a lot more for a 25-year-old generational player in Luka Doncic. He did not even request a trade. That could have helped the team land at least three or four 1st round picks.
But instead, they received just one pick along with a soon-to-be 32 Anthony Davis and a good backup player in Max Christie. Had they made the trade public, a desperate team could have given them the entire haul just. After all, the New York Knicks gave up five 1st round picks for 28-year-old Mikal Bridges.
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Joseph Varghese
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