The Lakers are on the rise while things have quickly gone south for the Mavericks. Breaking down the West one month post-trade deadline.
The 2025 trade deadline was technically one month ago, but it doesn't really feel that way. No, with nine former All-Stars traded, it feels as though we're somehow playing out a second season within the first.
The Mavericks lineup could realistically feature Kyrie Irving (once he returns from his torn ACL), Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford or Dereck Lively II and Flagg. If the Mavs wanted to go smaller, they could move AD to center and play PJ Washington alongside Irving, Thompson, and Flagg.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been the hottest team in the NBA, winning 17 of their last 20 games. And, it's not all because of Luka Dončić.
Before the Dallas Mavericks shocked the sports world by trading superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, they reportedly tried to pair Doncic with another star before parting ways.
The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off arguably the most shocking trade in NBA history when they acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis last month. Though the Mavericks initially approached the Lakers about the trade, the Lakers had their own motivations for going through with the blockbuster deal.