Doncic Among Lakers and Mavericks Who Share Wounds

If there were a vote on the dumbest figure in the NBA, the answer would undoubtedly point to Nico Harrison. The General Manager of the Dallas Mavericks traded the club's most valuable asset, Luka Doncic, based on questionable reasoning. He stated that defense wins championships.

Harrison traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for defensive center Anthony Davis. Just two months after the transaction in early February 2025, the Mavericks were confirmed to have failed to qualify for the playoffs. They had successfully reached the finals with Doncic last season.

The poor results made Harrison look more and more like a “clown”. Until finally, on Thursday (1/5/2025), the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs after losing 1-4 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Doncic, who had previously brought the Lakers’ hopes of winning, was now made the “scapegoat”.

On social media, netizens are beginning to agree with Harrison. Doncic's weaknesses on the defensive side have come under scrutiny. "Doncic is a star player with the worst defense ever seen in the modern basketball era. Period," said Kendrick Perkins, a one-time NBA champion, on the show First Take.

The Lakers have Doncic (30.8 points) and LeBron James (28.3 points), two players who are among the top six players with the highest average productivity in playoff history. Among those six players, they are the only ones involved in the playoffs this season. The other four names have retired or failed to qualify for the playoffs.

However, the third-seeded team in the Western Conference still couldn't say much. The Lakers' defensive problems were too big. Doncic's contribution with an average of 30.2 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, felt useless because he was made an easy target for Anthony Edwards and his friends.

In the world of sports, results are like gods. Perspectives can change drastically from just one game. That's what Doncic feels. The 26-year-old guard was touted as the most valuable player at the end of last season, but is considered either overrated or overrated now. Which is true?

The best way to interpret the results is through context. Basketball is not math. One plus one does not equal two. The combination of Doncic and James, the two most dominant players in the playoffs, is no guarantee of victory or a championship.

There are many factors that contributed to the Lakers’ anticlimax. First and foremost is timing. Doncic was acquired at the trade deadline, just two months before the playoffs. When was the last time a team won the NBA title after making a major playoff trade?

Just look at the champions of the last five seasons, including the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets. These teams were mostly built over the years, not created overnight. The shortest championship process was experienced by James alongside Davis at the Lakers (2020). Even then, it took more than a year after they came together.

Basketball is a team sport that requires chemistry, the right pieces and momentum. The Lakers have none of that. The sudden Doncic departure saga has upended coach J.J. Redick’s plans. They lost a center of Davis’ stature and have no replacement.

"We made a big trade at the deadline, giving up a starting center for a point guard. That definitely caused some issues within the team. That's something we have to fix and make it a priority in the preseason to add a center," Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka said.

The Lakers were forced to play a “small ball” scheme throughout the series. As a result, their interior was exploited by the Timberwolves who were superior in terms of physicality. Like in game five, opposing center Rudy Gobert was able to record the most points (27) and rebounds (24) in his playoff career.

In last season's regional final, Timberwolves versus Mavericks, Gobert became the subject of ridicule as he was outplayed by Doncic. The Mavericks won 4-1 against the Timberwolves thanks to Doncic's performance. This season, Gobert turned the tables by humiliating the Slovenian player.

That inverted world can occur due to differing support. In the Mavericks, the team's playing system is tailored to Doncic's needs. The team has been built over the years to maximize Doncic's potential on the offensive side and to cover his weaknesses on the defensive side.

The Lakers' downfall was also influenced by many other things. James, for example, failed to bring out his best abilities. The 40-year-old player is the most experienced player in the playoffs, but seemed to disappear in the decisive quarters of games four and five.

"King James," as he is nicknamed, only scored five points from those two crucial quarters. He made two shots out of nine attempts. During his time on the court, the Lakers recorded a total score deficit of minus 19.

Redick mentioned after the second game that James' fitness condition had improved, but was not yet at the highest level. "The fact is, there are several players who should be in better shape. That improvement is what I have in mind for the next season," he said.

Redick, the debut coach, also bears responsibility. He played a significant role in the Lakers' defeat in game four. At that time, he did not substitute players during the halftime period, including James. As a result, they were exhausted at the end of the game and lost 113-116.

Non-technical influences, such as the mental readiness of the players, are indeed rarely given specific attention. However, it seems to play a role in Doncic's overall performance. The player appears unprepared to leave the city of Dallas after representing the Mavericks since 2018.

Before the Lakers versus Mavericks game in early April, the player known as "Luka Magic" cried when greeted with a farewell video from his former club. "Honestly, I felt heartbroken. I was shocked. Being there was something very special," Doncic explained.

If asked who won in the Doncic trade, the Lakers or the Mavericks? For this season, the answer is neither. Both teams are equally injured. However, it remains a mystery for the future. Doncic could lead the Lakers to a championship or choose not to extend his contract.

A similar situation applies to Harrison. It is possible that the Mavericks could be competitive again next season when key players like Kyrie Irving return from injury. Harrison, who currently plays the role of the antagonist for the public in Dallas, may well become a hero. (AP)