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Charania added in a follow-up tweet: “Yes, this is real.”

It is arguably the biggest trade in basketball history.

It will have major financial implications for Doncic, too, as he can no longer receive a super max contract this off-season from the Mavericks.

He was in line to be paid $US345 million over five years. But this looming deal, combined with his current calf injury and conditioning concerns from the Mavericks, played major roles in the decision to trade him for a shocking price.

None of the key players involved had any idea the trade was coming, according to Charania.

“This deal materialized in the shadows. This came out of nowhere,” Charania said on Sportscenter.

“And I’m told, Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, LeBron James, the players, coaches. A lot of people on both sides of the Mavericks and Lakers had no idea. I can assuredly tell you it’s a fact – LeBron James had no idea this was coming. Anthony Davis had no idea this was coming. Luka Doncic is still stunned about this trade.

“I’m told that the Mavericks actually approached the Lakers and offered Luka Doncic a few days ago in a trade. The Mavericks went out. They knew exactly who they wanted. They wanted Anthony Davis. That’s the player that if they were ever going to trade Luka Doncic, this was even a thought that was going to cross their mind, it was for AD.

“And so the Mavericks called the Lakers, offered Luka Doncic, and that’s when the Lakers had to huddle internally. They did. They’ve never offered Anthony Davis ever in a trade, but if you’re gonna get offered Luka Doncic, that’s when Jeanie Buss, Rob Pelinka and that organization, they had to meet.

“He’s a 25-year-old – player for the next decade. You can look at him as the face of your franchise.

“And on the other side with the Mavericks, you have someone who’s 31, he’s in the prime of his career. He wants to win a championship now, Anthony Davis does. And you pair him with Kyrie Irving, who he’s friends with, and close with Jason Kidd coached him on the 2020 championship Lakers, Jared Dudley, there’s other members of that coaching staff that he’s very close with, and (general manager) Nico Harrison he has a relationship with through Nike.

“So you take the curtains back, and it makes a lot of sense in many ways, but this coming right now, it’s the most stunning trade that I’ve definitely been a part of.”

After seeing one report LeBron “had grown frustrated with Anthony Davis”, the Lakers superstar tweeted: “You a fkn lie!!!! (growing nose emoji) (clown emoji)”.

Meanwhile long-time NBA reporter Marc Stein confirmed on Twitter Doncic “did NOT request a trade”.

“The Mavericks did this on their own accord, getting back Anthony Davis but only one future first-round pick from the Lakers in 2029 for a 25-year-old regarded as a future MVP,” he said.

“The Mavericks and Luka Doncic, until tonight, were heading toward a five-year contract extension in July worth a record $345 million.

“Dallas GM Nico Harrison made the call to abruptly change the direction of the franchise with one of the most stunning trades in league history.

“Dončić was targeting a Feb. 8 return from his calf strain, sources say, but long-term concerns about conditioning are said to have factored into Dallas’ shocking change of course.”

Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton summed up the reaction of the NBA world by tweeting: “Shams got hacked?”

But the Mavericks told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon they were driven by concerns over Doncic’s “constant conditioning issues and the looming commitment of another supermax contract extension this summer”.

“I believe that defense wins championships,” GM Nico Harrison told ESPN.

“I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future.”

ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst said on Sportscenter: “I had a current All-Star text me and say, ‘do you know how much the Mavericks must hate Luka?’”

“I mean, this is what they’re talking about in the league. I’ve had, you know, veteran coaches text me and say, they can’t believe they saw this. They just have never seen anything like this.

“Luka is 25 years old. Okay? He is under contract for several more years, and this summer, he is already eligible for a super max. I find it completely unbelievable that he would not sign that contract.

“This was not done because the Mavericks didn’t think Luka wanted to be there. Even if he didn’t sign that contract, he would have a whole year to figure it out.

“This was done because the Mavericks didn’t think that going forward with Luca was best for their franchise. Think about that statement – a 25-year-old who’s been first team All-NBA the last five years and carried them to the Finals a few months ago.

“And they said, we want out of the Luka Doncic business, and we want out of it. Now. They didn’t put him on auction, they didn’t say we’re going to trade Luka Doncic, bring us your offers. They targeted one team, and they made the deal in stealth mode.

“This is just shocking, and I will say this, we all know what Luka’s you know pock marks are. We all know what his deficiencies are. We all have seen his greatness. But nobody in the world has more information on Luka Doncic than the Mavericks. And the Mavericks just pulled the rip cord – it’s a stunning situation.”

TRADE DETAILS

– Lakers get: Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris

– Mavericks get: Anthony Davis, Max Christie, 2029 LAL 1st

– Jazz get: Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2025 Clippers 2nd, 2025 Mavericks 2nd