Bleacher Report ranked the Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Dončić trade as the NBA’s worst deal of the past 5 years, ahead of the Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant trades.
DALLAS - Bleacher Report ranked the Luka Dončić trade the worst NBA deal of the past five years in a list published Sunday. ... and we understand the sentiment.
Phoenix's 2023 acquisition of Bradley Beal came in second, the Suns' Kevin Durant trade third, Sacramento's Domantas Sabonis deal fourth, and the Lakers' Russell Westbrook trade fifth.
The Dallas Mavericks acquired Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 2, 2025. Dončić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris were part of the other side of the trade. Utah entered as a third team and acquired Jalen Hood-Schifino along with two second-round picks.
The author noted that Dallas, under then-GM Nico Harrison, will be remembered for making "the worst trade in recent memory." At the time of the deal, Dončić was six years younger than Davis and was considered more durable, Hughes added.
Harrison was fired on November 11, 2025, when Dallas had a 3-8 record. On that day, Governor Patrick Dumont communicated with fans via a letter. Meanwhile, assistant general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi temporarily assumed control of basketball operations for the rest of the season.
Davis played 29 games for the Mavericks before being traded to Washington on February 4, 2026, in an eight-player trade involving Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell, and Dante Exum heading east. Dallas received Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round picks, and three second-round picks in return. Davis had been out since January 8 because of ligament damage in his left hand. Last season, over 20 games, he averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks.
Three months after the trade, Dallas won the 2025 draft lottery and took Cooper Flagg first overall. Flagg was named Rookie of the Year on April 27. He started all 70 games he played and averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.9 blocks. He shot 46.8% from the field. Only LeBron James was younger when he won the award. Flagg is also the first teenager to score 50 points in an NBA game.
Over 64 games with the Lakers, Dončić averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists. He led the league in scoring. A hamstring strain on April 2 kept him out of the postseason, and Los Angeles finished with a 53-29 record, defeating Houston in six games before losing to Oklahoma City in four games in the second round.
Christie is the sole player from the February 2025 return still with Dallas. He played in 68 of 77 games last season, posting a career-high 40.4% shooting from three and averaging a career-best 12.3 points. Christie is under contract for $8.2 million this season, with a player option for 2027-28. The Lakers' unprotected 2029 first-round pick remains owned by Dallas.
Davis's contract generated a $20.8 million trade exception, which the Mavericks utilized this summer to acquire Santi Aldama and Zaccharie Risacher. Risacher, the first overall pick in 2024, joined from Atlanta through a three-team trade that also involved Luguentz Dort being sent to the Hawks and Ryan Nembhard leaving Dallas.
Dallas finished with a 26-56 record. On May 5, Masai Ujiri was introduced as the president of basketball operations, followed by Mike Schmitz being named general manager. Later that month, Jason Kidd and the Mavericks parted ways. In late June, Dusty May was hired, just days before Dallas selected Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. with the ninth pick.
ESPN's Summer Forecast panel projected Dallas 12th in the West at 32-50 this season. Kyrie Irving returns from a torn ACL that cost him all of last season.
The Lakers will be at American Airlines Center on February 28, and Washington will play in Dallas on March 11.
