One Year Later Luka Doncic Trade Proves Brilliant

Merlin sees the trade that shook the league: in Feb. 2025 Dallas sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and future picks, with Utah getting Jalen Hood-Schifino and two second-rounders. One year on, Dončić is leading the NBA at 33.7 points per game in Los Angeles, Davis has been a strong two-way force for Dallas when healthy but has battled injuries, and Christie has emerged as an elite corner shooter for the Mavericks. Merlin notes the long ripple effects: Dallas fired GM Nico Harrison, drafted Cooper Flagg, and still hunts stability. The Lakers clearly grabbed a superstar at age 26 and saw immediate offensive payoff. Dallas gained defense, shooting and youth, yet Davis’s availability makes the balance fragile. Expect more role changes and roster tinkering before the next deadline.