11-03-2025
Lakers won award at Sloan Analystics Conference for Luka Doncic trade
Lakers won award at Sloan Analystics Conference for Luka Doncic trade
While the Dallas Mavericks have been universally criticized for trading away young generational superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Lakers have gotten credit for not only pulling off the tectonic trade but for also keeping negotiations a secret.
Negotiations took several weeks between Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and Mavericks executive Nico Harrison, who have been friends going back some 20 years. Los Angeles only gave up superstar big man Anthony Davis, rising 3-and-D wing Max Christie and one future first-round draft pick to the Mavs for Doncic, who is regarded by most as one of the two to three best basketball players in the world.
The Purple and Gold reportedly received an Alpha Award for Transaction of the Year across all sports at the Sloan Analytics Conference over the weekend for landing Doncic.
Pelinka, who had been lambasted by many people and Lakers fans for some questionable and bad moves in the last few years, deserves credit for negotiating down the price for Doncic, which originally included rookie sharpshooter Dalton Knecht and an additional future first-round draft pick.
As a result, the franchise now has its next transcendent player for up to the next 10 years or so and could be poised to win multiple NBA championships as a result.
