Former Boston Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck shared his thoughts on the shocking trade of Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers. Speaking on the Club 520 Podcast, Grousbeck addressed how unexpected the deal was for NBA insiders.
“When you see things happen like the Luka trade, right—it catches everybody off guard,” he said, via HoopsHype. Grousbeck questioned how such a major move could occur without prior communication among team owners. “If we traded somebody of that level—which we’re not—but if we were, we would call everybody. And it would probably leak out, but you just got to take it.”
Grousbeck noted the trade’s unusual nature given the Mavericks’ return in the deal. While Memphis got four picks and a swap for Desmond Bane, Dallas only received a couple of draft selections for Doncic. “I guess I feel like it must have been painful for them to do it. So, they didn’t want to let everybody know about it, probably,” he added.
The blockbuster trade on February 2 sent Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to the Lakers. In return, Dallas acquired Max Christie, Anthony Davis, and a 2029 first-round pick. The deal also involved the Utah Jazz with secondary picks exchanged. It marked the first midseason swap of two reigning All-NBA players.
The Mavericks finished the 2024-25 regular season with a 39-43 record, missing the playoffs after falling to the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in tournament. Meanwhile, the Lakers, led in part by Doncic, bowed out in the first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
