Itâs been over a month since the seismic trade that saw the Los Angeles Lakers acquire Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis. While the dust has settled, the blockbuster deal remains a hot topic around the NBA. Recently, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss shed light on one critical reason the organization decided to part ways with Davis.
In an interview with National Public Radio (NPR), Buss revealed that Davis had expressed dissatisfaction with his role on the team, which played a significant part in the decision to pursue the trade with Dallas.
âWe gave up a lot to get Luka Doncic. Weâre happy we have him,â Buss said. âWeâve lost to the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs three years in a row, and we didnât have anything that was going to look different heading into this yearâs postseason. Anthony Davis was complaining about where he was being played, and he wasnât happy. So I think this was a positive move for both teamsâ.
Anthony Davis had previously voiced his preference for playing power forward instead of center, a sentiment he reiterated when he spoke with Shams Charania on ESPN earlier this year.
Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
âI think we need another big⊠Iâve always been at my best when Iâve been at the four [power forward] and having a big out there,â Davis explained in January. âWe know it worked when we won a championship with JaVale [McGee] and Dwight [Howard] at the five [center] and Iâm at the fourâ.
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Mavericksâ Anthony Davis makes big confession about his trade with Lakersâ Luka Doncic
Buss calls the trade a win-win
Despite losing a key player who contributed to their last championship, Buss believes the trade benefited both the Lakers and Mavericks. âThey [Mavericks] got what they were looking for; we got what we were looking for,â Buss stated.
âI didnât realize it was going to be international news like it was, but thatâs the power of the Laker brand and its ability to draw big names who want to write their own chapter in Lakers history,â she added.
Keeping the deal under wraps
The secrecy surrounding the trade negotiations took the NBA world by surprise, including Doncic and Davis. Buss highlighted the importance of maintaining confidentiality to ensure the deal went through without distractions.
âIt was really important to me that we didnât blow up the team,â Buss said ahead of the Lakersâ matchup against the Timberwolves, via ESPN. âIf it had leaked out and the trade hadnât happened, that wouldâve been really unfair to the progress the coaching staff had made with the team. Because itâs a huge distractionâ.
Buss acknowledged the stress surrounding the trade deadline and took pride in how smoothly the organization handled the negotiations. âThe trade deadline is part of the business. It increases the level of stress for everybody,â she noted. âIâm really proud that it didnât leak out and that we were able to execute the trade in a way that surprised everyone involved. But thatâs part of this businessâ.
