According to NBA reporter Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has received death threats since trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis.
Mavericks security has been beefed up for Saturday’s game against the Houston Rockets.
.@espn_macmahon on tonight’s Mavs game in Dallas:
“Nico Harrison has been subjected to death threats, security is going to be beefed up. There will be protests outside. Lines have been crossed” pic.twitter.com/rEyBoNIbAu
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) February 7, 2025
The Mavericks traded Doncic because they had concerns about his weight and conditioning. Doncic was eligible to sign a supermax extension this offseason and the franchise was scared to give him that much money.
Dallas acquired Davis and Max Christie from Los Angeles for Doncic, who is expected to make his Lakers debut on Monday versus the Utah Jazz.
Doncic appeared in 422 games with the Mavericks. He averaged 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists.
A future Hall of Famer, Doncic made five All-Star teams and five All-NBA teams with Dallas. He also won the 2019 Rookie of the Year Award and the 2024 scoring title.
Doncic has appeared in 22 games this season. He’s currently out with a calf injury. The 25-year-old is averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists.
According to NBA insiders Fred Katz, Sam Amick and Joe Vardon of The Athletic, Doncic is “ecstatic” about joining the Lakers.
“Now that the trade is official, answers are emerging,” Katz, Amick and Vardon wrote. “Doncic is ecstatic about joining the Lakers, and all early signs point to a long-term future with the team, a league source said.”
The Lakers have a “Big 3” of Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves. They also have terrific role players in Rui Hachimura, Dorian Finney-Smith, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent and Mark Williams.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks are now led by Davis, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson. They beat the reigning defending champions, the Boston Celtics, last night without Davis.
The Lakers (30-19) are in fifth place in the West, while the Mavericks (27-25) are in eighth place.
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