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LeBron and Luka, that’s a wild card.
The NBA trade rumors are still heating up as Thursday’s trade deadline approaches. But it is still hard to process Saturday night’s bombshell NBA news that the Dallas Mavericks actually traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Like, did that really happen? It just seems to have opened Pandora’s Box for other superstars and teams parting ways years before you ever thought it possible.
Grateful for this amazing opportunity. Basketball means everything to me, and no matter where I play the game, I’ll do so with the same joy, passion and goal – to win championships. https://t.co/psfgI5o9Pn
— Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) February 2, 2025
Did the Doncic trade influence Cleveland’s Myles Garrett to publicly request a trade Monday in the NFL? Hard to say, but we’re in a very wild place right now as it’s Super Bowl week and the talk is still on the most shocking trade in NBA history.
But is the trade a good thing for the league?
NBA Ratings Boost
A huge talking point in NBA circles the last few years has been the declining ratings and interest in the league. People have grown tired of the excessive 3-point shots, the way the 82-game season grinds away with minimal efforts from some teams, the load management, and the way superstars are always hurt for the postseason—or any game if it’s Joel Embiid.
Things haven’t been in the greatest shape with today’s NBA, and you have people blaming the NBA on TNT crew (Charles Barkley especially) for crapping on the product for creating more of a divide. But those guys just call it like they see it.
I haven’t created a lot of new fond memories of the NBA since the 2016 Finals ended when the Warriors blew that 3-1 lead. I also think the new crop of great players (Luka, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama, etc.) largely not coming from America and playing at NCAA universities has also stagnated their rise to stardom a bit.
Giannis was asked about the Luka trade and said his dream is for all the European stars to go to all the big markets ⭐️👀
“I want Luka to Lakers. I want Jokic to Knicks. I want all the Europeans to go to the big markets.”
(via @Bucks) pic.twitter.com/GlZoLdV2v9
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 3, 2025
The talk shows still hang onto debating LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry even if it’s been a few years since any were serious MVP or title contenders.
But I think this trade could help the league if it shows it’s possible to go get a disgruntled 25-year-old superstar, which hasn’t felt possible in recent years. Change your fortunes overnight. Maybe someone like Giannis can be wooed out of Milwaukee next.
It definitely shakes up the league.
You’re telling me the Mavs didn’t let ANY other teams know Luka was available? Do you know the haul they could’ve got?
I’m about to crash out and go full conspiracy theorist and say Adam Silver orchestrated this to try and save the NBA Ratings that are tanking.
— TD (@TDPresentsYT) February 2, 2025
Make the Lakers Great Again
There’s also the belief that the NBA is better if certain teams are doing great, namely the Boston Celtics and LA Lakers. You may not agree, but that goes back decades.
It just seems like any down period for the Lakers leads to some big move, whether it’s acquiring Shaquille O’Neal, getting Pau Gasol to help Kobe Bryant, getting LeBron in the post-Kobe era, and giving him Anthony Davis for 2020.
The Lakers have been quasi-contenders the last few years, but the new NBA betting odds seem to give them more hope with this trade. But it should be quite the experiment as Luka Doncic’s stats are great, but like LeBron, he’s a guy who needs the ball in his hands a lot.
At least with Davis, you knew his role as a defender/rebounder/finisher. LeBron and Luka, that’s a wild card. Personally, I’d love to see Donic and Jokic play together some day, but for now, this will do as a shot of intrigue for the rest of the 2025 season.
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