The Mavericks’ trade deadline pact that shipped out Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis is the deal that keeps on giving — or perhaps taking in the eyes of one longtime Western Conference rival.
Phoenix’s star guard Devin Booker weighed in on the franchise-altering trade after the Suns’ 125-116 victory in Dallas Sunday, stating that he could sense the shift in the Mavericks’ demeanor even before the game started.
“You can feel it when we land,” Booker said. “The vibes are low right now, but hopefully they can look back and once everybody gets healthy, on top of next season, still root on their team and root on their city.”
Doncic had been a fixture with the Mavericks since the draft night trade that brought him to the team in 2018. After first-round playoff exits in 2020 and 2021, the Mavs reached the NBA Finals last June and the Western Conference finals in two of the last three seasons. In 2022, Dallas and Phoenix were locked in epic seven-game series that saw the Mavericks dispatch the Suns thanks to Doncic scoring 68 points over back-to-back elimination games.
In addition to Doncic being gone, injuries have decimated the sinking Mavs, who’ve only had Davis (adductor strain) for one game since the trade. And then last week, star point guard Kyrie Irving tore his ACL and is out for the remainder of the season.