Either the Luka Dončić trade goes down as one of the worst in NBA history, or Nico Harrison proves to be one of the brightest GMs ever. At first, many—including myself—thought Shams had to be hacked. There was no way the Mavs just traded their 25-year-old franchise player fresh off a championship run. And yet, they did. This just goes to show: NOBODY is safe in the business of the NBA. Let’s get into it.

Of course, the Mavs didn’t just give Luka away for nothing. Anthony Davis is arguably the Defensive Player of the Year and can drop 30 on any given night. He helped the Lakers win a championship in 2020 and will now pair up with another champion, Kyrie Irving. Max Christie has also been a solid young player, showcasing his 3&D prowess. Reports suggest the Mavs aren’t done making moves, but even with future additions, is this really a win-now team? Maybe if they bring in Jimmy Butler. But as currently constructed, this squad isn’t getting the job done.

Listen, I’m not the biggest Luka fan. I’ve called him a defensive cone and prefer players like Kawhi Leonard, SGA, and Jimmy Butler. But you can’t ignore what he’s done offensively. The Lakers are getting one of the best scorers in the league at just 25. Luka has hit clutch shots in the playoffs and carried the Mavs on his back multiple times. To me, this signals a rebuild in L.A., and LeBron should be the next player on the move. There’s no way either of these teams beats OKC. There are also rumors that the Mavs didn’t want to pay Luka $345 million over five years, citing concerns about his weight (reportedly 270 lbs). If that’s true, he’ll definitely need to get in better shape.

Looking at Luka’s playstyle, he and Harden are essentially the same player. If we go back to the 2018 playoffs, you could argue Harden would have won a championship if Chris Paul hadn’t gotten hurt. That, as much as I hate to say it, would make Harden’s “I am the system” claim true. The Mavs had that same dynamic with Luka and Kyrie—an elite backcourt with defense around them—which makes this trade even more mind-blowing. Luka and Kyrie were a force to be reckoned with, but unfortunately, Luka couldn’t stay healthy. That’s part of the game.

So, who won the trade?

The Lakers. Luka Dončić is a 25-year-old superstar, and now he’s wearing purple and gold. Honestly, I still can’t believe he was traded. I even had a conspiracy theory that the NBA pushed for this to get Luka into a big-market team—that’s how shocking this move was.

For the Mavs, it’s championship or bust. And honestly, I’d even say championships or bust.

I can’t help but wonder: Are teams feeling pressured to swing big because of how dominant the Celtics and OKC look? Is this a direct response to OKC’s rise? They’re the real dynasty in the making. If you don’t believe me, go look at their future draft picks. But that’s a story for another day.