Anthony Davis' rift with Lakers revealed as key reason behind blockbuster trade by NBA insider
Anthony Davis' trade for Luka Doncic sent shockwaves around the NBA on Saturday night, as the balance of power shifted in the league. NBA insider Brett Siegel revealed one possible reason behind Anthony Davis' perplexing move from the Lakers, explaining that recent fissures had opened up between Davis and the Lakers.
Following his sit-down interview with ESPN, where he expressed dissatisfaction with the level of support around him and LeBron James, Davis also expressed his discomfort with playing the center position.
This game-changing, blockbuster deal was apparently conceived in a very short amount of time and without any notice to Davis and LeBron James.
According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison had offered Luka Doncic in a trade to the Lakers a few days ago.
Another NBA insider, Dave McMenamin, reported that LeBron James was taken aback by the shock news over dinner with his family, shortly after the Lakers' impressive win on Saturday night against the Knicks.
Nico Harrison was a long-time Nike executive in his previous job and has a relationship with Anthony Davis that is over a decade old.
Davis' apprehension at playing Center shall be solved when he lines up alongside Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, high-flying bigs who can guard the paint alongside AD.
Mavericks depth chart after Anthony Davis acquisition
The Mavericks (26-23) are in the eighth place in the West, with the Lakers (28-19) in fifth. After a spirited run to the NBA Finals last season, Dallas will look to return to the promised land in 2025, to justify their massive gamble on Anthony Davis.
Getting traded for Luka Doncic is a great endorsement of the 31-year-old superstar's abilities but the Mavericks will have a relatively short window of contention.
Kyrie Irving (32) and Klay Thompson (34) join Davis as veterans on the Mavericks roster with championship experience.
Here's what the Mavericks depth chart looks like after trading Luka Doncic: