One NBA executive quipped Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison basically played four-dimensional chess when he traded franchise cornerstone Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite long odds, the Mavs won the 2025 NBA draft lottery Monday night, putting them in position to land Duke star Cooper Flagg.

Luka Doncic riled up the entire NBA realm back in early 2025. With the trade window about to close, the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a stunner. Doncic was traded from the Mavericks to the Lakers in an exchange that nobody expected.

The Lakers sent Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick for Doncic and Maxi Kleber. While Davis is a 10-time All-Star, he's also an injury-prone 32-year-old. Doncic, on the other hand, is 26 and led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season.