Luka Doncic, Bulls Report Turns Heads After Lakers' Loss in NBA Playoffs
Luka Doncic, Bulls Report Turns Heads After Lakers' Loss in NBA Playoffs originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Los Angeles Lakers' acquisition of Luka Doncic in February 2025 marked one of the most significant trades in NBA history, as it was the first time two reigning All-NBA players were exchanged midseason. The Lakers sent Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris.
Advertisement
While the move aimed to bolster the Lakers' championship aspirations, the team ultimately fell short, exiting the playoffs in the first round after a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Since joining the Lakers, Doncic has averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 assists, and 7.5 rebounds in 28 games. However, his defensive struggles and conditioning have drawn criticism, particularly during the playoff series against the Timberwolves.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77).Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
In the aftermath of the trade and LA's elimination, a report has surfaced that the Chicago Bulls were eager to acquire Doncic. According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, a source indicated that Bulls executive Arturas Karnisovas and his front office "would have offered anyone and everyone on the roster had they been notified by the Mavericks that Luka Doncic was available in February."
Advertisement
However, the Mavericks only engaged in trade discussions with the Lakers, and the Bulls' potential offer was never considered.
This revelation sparked a wave of reactions from NBA fans on social media, many of whom questioned the Bulls' ability to assemble a compelling trade package for Doncic:
"Did I miss the Bulls having anyone better than AD? That team is a pile of garbage. You couldn't even trade the entire roster for a third-team All-NBA player," a fan wrote.
"For who?? Vuc and Ayo," one fan added.
"The Bulls are washed; no one wants to play in Chicago," another fan joked.
Advertisement
"Bulls don't got a single player worthy of trading Luka for," a fan noted.
"Just for Luka to be playing with some scrubs lmao," another fan mentioned.
Related: Cooper Flagg, Dalton Knecht News Turns Heads Before NBA Draft
Related: Lakers Predicted to Part Ways With One Player After LeBron James News
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
19 minutes ago
- New York Post
Tyrese Haliburton's girlfriend trolls Knicks with savage post after playoff ouster
Tyrese Haliburton's girlfriend sent a savage farewell message to the Knicks after their loss to the Pacers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday. Jade Jones, who trolled the Knicks throughout the series, did just that by quoting lyrics to their anthem, 'Go NY Go,' which is played during Knicks home games at Madison Square Garden. 'Go NY go NY go… Home!!!' Jones wrote Sunday on Instagram, adding the hashtag, '#YESCERSSS. Advertisement 'So proud of this team!!! 💛💛💛.' Jones included a meme of the Statue of Liberty in a Haliburton Pacers jersey — and a snapshot of the two-time All-Star making a choke gesture during Indiana's overtime victory in Game 1. Advertisement Haliburton was mimicking former Pacer and Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, who taunted the Knicks during the 1994 Eastern Conference playoffs. 6 Tyrese Haliburton and his girlfriend Jade Jones celebrating on the court after the Pacers beat the Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday, May 31, 2025. Instagram/Jade Jones 6 Tyrese Haliburton and his girlfriend Jade Jones celebrating on the court after the Pacers beat the Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday, May 31, 2025. Instagram/Jade Jones Another image in Jones' carousel featured Haliburton's dad, John Haliburton, who wore a shirt with the message, 'Pops is free,' which referred to his temporary ban from Pacers' games during the playoffs. Advertisement John missed eight games due to a confrontation with Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo after the Pacers eliminated Milwaukee in Game 5 of their first-round series. 6 Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton mimicked former Pacer and Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, during their Eastern Conference finals series with the Knicks. Instagram/Jade Jones He was back at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for Game 4 between the Pacers and Knicks on Tuesday night, taking in the action from a private suite. Jones looked stunning on Saturday while sporting custom jeans with Haliburton's name stitched down her leg. Advertisement She also rocked a cap with Haliburton's face on it. 6 Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, left, celebrates with his father, John Haliburton, after winning Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the New York Knicks in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 31, 2025. AP Jones has supported Haliburton throughout his NBA career, which began when the Kings selected him in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft. The couple began dating while they were students at Iowa State, where Haliburton played college basketball and Jones was a cheerleader. Haliburton and Jones celebrated six years together in April. 6 Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton celebrates during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 31, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Getty Images Haliburton finished Saturday's game with 21 points and 13 assists en route to the Pacers' 125-108 victory over the Knicks for a 4-2 series win — and their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2000. He was clutch for Indiana throughout the entire series after being voted as the most overrated player in the NBA by other players in an anonymous survey conducted by The Athletic. Advertisement 6 Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton holds up the trophy after the Pacers won Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the New York Knicks in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 31, 2025. AP '[Pacers center] Pascal [Siakam] and Tyrese put us on their backs and made sure we would not lose,' coach Rick Carlisle said after Game 6. 'But our work has just begun.' Siakam won the Larry Bird Trophy as the Eastern Conference finals MVP. The Pacers will face the Thunder and league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the 2025 NBA Finals beginning June 5 in Oklahoma City.
USA Today
37 minutes ago
- USA Today
Boston Celtics jersey history No. 20 - Marlon Garnett (1999)
Boston Celtics jersey history No. 20 - Marlon Garnett (1999) The Boston Celtics have had players suiting up in a total of 68 different jersey numbers (and have three others not part of any numerical series) since their founding at the dawn of the Basketball Association of America (BAA -- the league that would become today's NBA), worn by well over 500 players in the course of Celtics history. To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Celtics Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team. With 25 of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Celtics to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover. And for today's article, we will continue with the 20th of 31 people to wear the No. 20 jersey, Boston guard alum Marlon Garnett. After ending his college career at Santa Clara, Garnett would go unselected in the 1997 NBA draft, instead signing with the Celtics in 1999. His stay with the team would span a single season, the Los Angeles, California native playing abroad and in other domestic leagues afterward. During his time suiting up for the Celtics, Garnett wore only jersey No. 20 and put up 2.1 points per game. All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Michael Beasley shares why he hates the narrative that Luka Doncic is out of shape: "When I'm scoring 50, tell me then to get in shape"
Luka Doncic may be a transcendent talent, but two significant flaws have overshadowed the Los Angeles Lakers superstar's career. One is his lack of effort on the defensive end, which was abundantly apparent in their first-round exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves in this year's NBA Playoffs. Another is his lack of conditioning, which fans and analysts have pointed to as the main reason the Dallas Mavericks stunningly traded him to the Purple & Gold before this season's trade deadline. Advertisement However, one former NBA veteran, Michael Beasley, has pushed back against that popular narrative, claiming that if the Slovenian ace doesn't have optimal physical conditioning, he wouldn't be able to put up the numbers he regularly does or even lead the Mavs to the NBA Finals last season. You have to be in shape to put up a lot of shots in the NBA The NBA is a grown man's league, wherein getting a shot off takes a lot of strength and stamina. In his eight-year NBA career, the 6'6" guard has averaged over 20 shots a game, proving his ability to handle the physical demands of the league. It's a point that Beasley, the second-overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft, champions. "I hate this narrative on Luka, right? It's just something that I'm hearing in the news. I hate this like "out of shape" narrative that I'm hearing, 'cause it's like everybody that's saying he's out of shape is the same ones that's cheering hurrah hurrah when he's scoring 50 points or 60 points," the left-handed forward said. Advertisement Beasley, who last played in the Association for the Lakers in 2019, added that this critique of Doncic's game only comes out of the woodwork whenever his team loses. However, it all fades when the native of Ljubljana, Slovenia, drops 73 points on defenses designed to stop his every move. "In order to score 50, you got to be in shape to shoot 30 shots at least, right? Especially in the NBA. When it works, what shape are we speaking about? It's like you always got to find something bad to say about him. And it's like—why? Like bro, sometimes the other guy was just better and just bust their ass. And just really bust their ass. And it's as simple as that," "Beas" pointed out. Related: Michael Jordan warned the NBA about pushing the "next MJ" narrative: "There's a danger to that, the credibility of the game can take a hit" Don't try to ruin a man's reputation Luka was keen on staying a member of the Mavs organization for his entire career. He had helped build something special in Dallas after the team acquired him in the 2018 NBA Draft. However, the Mavs' decision-makers did not believe in "The Don" as much as the latter believed in his team. And not only did Dallas trade him, but they also tried to assassinate his character on his way out with talks regarding his subpar physical conditioning. It was something that Beasley certainly took offense with. Advertisement "It's like, when I'm scoring 50, tell me then to get in shape," the "Walking Bucket" stressed. "The second I get a turnover, or the second I don't win one of the games that you clearly been paying me — now I'm out of shape?" "That s**t messes up the players' money. And the organizations know what they're doing. That's not fair," he added. With the Lakers' offseason starting earlier than they would have liked, it seems like Doncic has not wasted any time getting to work. He recently attended a basketball game of his former team, Real Madrid, and looked to be in great shape. While there is no doubt that "Luka Magic" has natural talent, his dedication to staying fit and improving his game only bodes well for him and the Lakers moving forward. Related: "Keep putting him in trade rumors for second string centers" - Austin Reaves' agent issues warning amid constant trade rumors
