In one of the most shocking trades in NBA history, the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks swapped superstars Anthony Davis and Luka Doncic on a late February night.
The blockbuster deal left fans, players and even coaches stunned—no one saw it coming. Lakers owner Jeanie Buss recently revealed that secrecy was the key to making this league-changing move happen.
Keeping it Under the Radar
Buss told Rob Perez and Antonio Daniels on SiriusXM NBA Radio that leaks almost killed previous Lakers trade plans. This time around, they made sure to keep it on the down low.
“I think if it had leaked, the trade wouldn’t have happened, and for many reasons,” Buss said. “People working against us, who wouldn’t want to see that trade happen. Keeping things under wraps is really, really important.”
She went on to explain how past leaks had disrupted their basketball operations and caused frustration and setbacks. But now, after tightening their inner circle, the Lakers have figured out how to keep a secret.
“Finally, we got rid of the problem. Now we can keep things under wraps when we want to,” Buss said. “I learned a lesson there—that you always have to do what’s best for the organization because everybody’s got their angle on how they want something to go.”
Why the Trade Had to be Secret
When you’re dealing with superstars like Luka and AD, the stakes are huge. Any leak could have caused panic among players, agents or even other teams trying to get in. For example, Luka, AD, LeBron, and Mavs coach Jason Kidd were all caught off guard when the trade was announced.
Had it gotten out early, external pressure might have forced one of the teams to back out. According to Buss, keeping it quiet kept the deal on track without outside interference.
The Impact of the Trade So Far
The Lakers are already reaping the benefits of secrecy. Since getting, Luka Doncic they are 3rd in the West. Doncic has made them title contenders not just for this season but for years to come.
With Doncic and LeBron, they have one of the best duos in the league. The Mavericks hope Anthony Davis can help their roster and stay relevant in the West.
Leave a Reply