Late Saturday Night, Feb. 1, ESPN’s NBA Insider Shams Charania broke the news that shocked the basketball world. Around 11 p.m., Shams broke the news that Luka Doncic would be traded to Los Angeles for star center Anthony Davis. On Sunday night, Shams also broke the news that Sacramento Kings Guard De’Aaron Fox to the Chicago Bulls, while Bulls star guard Zach Lavine would be headed to northern California. 

Doncic Takes His Talents To LA in Blockbuster

Mavericks: D-

Only eight months ago, the Dallas Mavericks were getting ready to face off against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. After trading a king’s ransom for star guard Kyrie Irving, it seemed like the Mavericks finally made it to their final destination. 

After getting Demolished 4-1 in the series, it was back to the drawing board for Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison. After acquiring the aging Klay Thompson in free agency, the Mavs were looked at as serious contenders in the Western Conference. Then the injuries hit, with Doncic himself missing over half the season with a calf strain, as the Mavs limped to a 26-24 record before the move.

Obviously, this move is a disaster for Harrison and the Mavs organization. Giving up the cornerstone of the franchise for pennies on the dollar isn’t a good look, especially for a team coming off their first Finals appearance since 2012.

The return wasn’t that great for Dallas with Anthony Davis, young guard Max Christie and a 2029 first round pick. The return for any other star player would be ok, but this is Luka Doncic who they traded away, so this return simply isn’t close to being enough for a player of Doncic’s caliber.

The Mavs could have had any player they wanted, but chose to go with the first reported offer they got, so Dallas gets a D-.

Lakers: A+

The Lakers get a top five player in the league right now. Alongside his childhood idol, Lebron James, Luka Doncic gets to thrive and take the Lakers however far he and Lebron can take them in the postseason.

Although the Lakers gave up Max Christie, a young three-and-D player who turns 22 years old next week, in this trade, the acquisition of Luka and Maxi Kleber far outweigh the loss of a young player with lots of potential. 

Kleber instantly takes the center position for the Lakers, filling the void that Anthony Davis leaves, and veteran forward Markeiff Morris gives the Lakers some experience to help guide the young Lakers’ core through a possible playoff run.

Jazz: A

The Utah Jazz were simply included for salary cap purposes, but they came out with a decent haul. Second-year guard Jalen Hood-Schifino goes to Utah along with two second-round picks in the upcoming draft, who could be used to find a diamond in the rough somewhere.

Hood-Schifino provides even more youth to one of the youngest rosters in the league currently. He provides some scoring off the bench and could be a piece off the bench for a middling Jazz team who are just waiting for June to possibly select Duke forward Cooper Flagg in the upcoming draft.

De’Aaron Fox heads to San Antonio while Lavine goes to the Kings in a three team deal

Kings: C+

The Kings wouldn’t have been able to sign De’Aaron Fox in free agency this summer, so it makes sense to deal him here. With Fox’s type of scoring acumen, the Kings would have liked to have a little more compensation for his talents. Per reports by The Athletic, Fox’s agent Rich Paul expressed Fox’s frustration with his contract to the Kings’ brass. The Kings let go Mike Brown in December to appease Fox, who had a strenuous relationship with Brown. Less than two months after that move, the Kings have traded their franchise cornerstone, getting back star forward Zach Lavine.

Lavine is in the midst of a breakout season for the Chicago Bulls, averaging 24 points per game along with five assists. Lavine could work in the Kings’ dribble-handoff centric system along with All-Star Domantas Sabonis, but Fox was arguably the best fit for the system. 

The Kings do acquire three first-round picks in the trade, however. The catch with the 2025 pick that was originally held by the Charlotte Hornets is the protection, if the Hornets are eligible for the NBA Draft Lottery, the pick returns to Charlotte. Essentially, the Kings got a first that will not be a first-rounder by the time June rolls around, as the Hornets are sitting at 12-34 and have the third-worst record in the league. 

The Kings also have to deal with the monster contract that Lavine signed in 2022 that gives him $50 million per season.

Spurs: A-

Victor Wenbanyama has found his sidekick. De’Aaron Fox is the perfect guard to team up with the 7’4 Alien in Wenbanyama. The driving ability that Fox possesses is the perfect fit, teams will now have to decide whether to guard Fox and his ability to drive to the hoop, or Wenbanyama sitting outside to shoot a three-pointer. Any way you slice it, the Spurs come out as the obvious winners in this deal. 

San Antonio also acquired guard Jordan Mclaughlin. The career bench scorer hasn’t ever averaged more than eight points per game, so he will probably only be used as depth for Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich.

Bulls: B-

The Bulls rebuild has begun. The five year $250 million maximum contract that Lavine signed in 2022 is officially off the books in Chicago. That’s the big win for the Bulls, as freeing up $50 million per year is a huge boost for their salary cap flexibility. 

The return of Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, Tre Jones, a 2025 second-round pick and outright ownership of the Bulls’ own 2025 first-round pick are nothing special. Collins and Jones weren’t prolific players for San Antonio. Both came off the bench for the Spurs, Collins for Wenbanyama and Jones for veteran Chris Paul and Devin Vassell respectively. 

Huerter had a massive contract that the Kings were desperately trying to get out of, a four-year $65 million contract that he signed with the Atlanta Hawks in 2022. The Bulls get three young players that can tie Chicago over until the Bulls find younger replacements, while also getting Lavine’s massive contract off the books. 

Not a bad deal for Chicago, but they will surely miss Lavine, who’s been the face of the franchise since his arrival in 2017.

With all of the news this weekend in the NBA, more moves will be made on the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler could be on the move as well as more players for lesser teams such as the Washington Wizards or Brooklyn Nets as well. Whatever happens on Feb. 6, the future of the franchises that decide to make moves will be forever altered.