Day 3, Nova Luka Domini: Luka, LeBron, and Kyrie Speak For the First Time

Plus the latest KD rumors, first post-trade look at the Mavs, Lakers, and Grimes-Martin trade impressions

Photo by MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images

This is Day 3 of Nova Luka Domini, the new Dončić era, the post-77 world in Dallas, and the beginning of a new chapter for the 25-year-old Slovenian superstar in Los Angeles.

"Seismic" was one of the most frequently used words to describe the Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis trade, and for good reason. It continues to send shockwaves through the Mavericks, their fans, the Lakers, and even this very Substack, shaking up everything we cover here.

As I mentioned in my initial reaction to Nico Harrison pulling the trigger on one of the most stunning moves in NBA history, I’ll be covering this new era from all angles—the Mavericks, Dončić, and the Lakers.

With the trade deadline looming just hours away on Feb. 6 at 3 p.m. ET, I’ll try to make sense of the chaos, sharing my thoughts and reactions to key developments that seem to be coming at us by the minute.

Then, once we’ve had time to digest the post-deadline NBA landscape, hopefully during the All-Star break, I’ll try to dive into the in-depth, data-driven analysis most of you expect. (Spoiler: I’m already laying the groundwork for two projects—one focused on predicting Anthony Davis’ prime, similar to my Kyrie Irving Timeline analysis from the summer, as both are key to understanding how long this new win-now Mavericks title window might last.)

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Today’s highlights:

1. Luka, LeBron, and Kyrie speak for the first time post-trade

2. New Kevin Durant rumors

3. First post-trade impressions of the Mavs and Lakers and the obvious holes they need to fill

4. Intriguing Max Christie Mavs debut📊

5. The implications of the Quentin Grimes - Caleb Martin swap

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1-Luka, LeBron, and Kyrie speak for the first time post-trade

On Monday, I aimed to shed light on why Harrison orchestrated a deal that left virtually everyone in the NBA questioning his sanity. I touched on the disastrous, tone-deaf media address from Harrison and Jason Kidd as they tried to explain something no one else could. That media session was just one piece of what has spiraled into a full-blown PR disaster for the Mavericks—an avalanche of fan protests, boycotts, season ticket cancellations, and open letters directed at Harrison. The fact that the Mavericks (a) failed to anticipate the fan response to trading away their hero of six-plus years, and (b) witnessed the initial backlash yet still went ahead with a press conference that showed no empathy only raises more questions about their decision-making process.

Speaking of empathy and emotions, it was a refreshing contrast to see other key figures react to the trade for the first time. Lakers head coach JJ Redick used the word empathy three times in his first reaction to the trade. Irving used the words 'grieving' and 'hermano' and showed empathy with the fans, saying it hurt him just as much as it did them.

Dončić, speaking to the media in Los Angeles for the first time, was brutally honest about how difficult the past two days had been. He also pushed back against the idea that he ever considered leaving Dallas or refusing to sign the supermax extension, using the word etched in stone on Dirk Nowitzki's statue in front of the American Airlines Center:

‘I thought I was gonna spend my whole career there [in Dallas], because loyalty is a big word for me.’ - Luka Dončić

LeBron spoke about the shock and how difficult it was to face the uncomfortable moment of truth—seeing his sidekick, the teammate he won a title with, Davis, sent away. But he also reiterated that Dončić has been his favorite player in the NBA for a while and emphasized how special it could be to have two selfless competitors and two of the most brilliant offensive minds sharing the same jersey. Losing the exclusive vision of Dončić playing next to the Mavericks' franchise legend and one of his idols, Nowitzki, is something that devastates Dallas fans, while seeing him now alongside his other aging idol and legend, LeBron, brings incredible excitement to both Luka and Lakers fans.

2-New Kevin Durant rumors

Here’s a quote from The Athletic that sent another shockwave through the NBA and sheds more light on how the Mavericks plan to build their team in the post-Dončić era:

League sources say the Dallas Mavericks, fresh off their Luka Dončić-for-Anthony Davis swap that sent shockwaves through the Association, dreams of adding Durant to their Davis-Kyrie Irving-led group. While the likelihood of Dallas pulling this off now appears unlikely, the mere idea of Durant joining Dallas’ star-studded group sheds new light on the thinking of Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison after he was roundly ridiculed for the Dončić deal.

Whether it’s Durant (now or later), or perhaps even the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James in the summer if he were to decline his player option for next season, the 52-year-old Harrison appears to be targeting big-time stars with whom he’s very familiar from his past life as a top Nike executive.

As Marc Stein reported, a Durant move at the deadline is unlikely, but Harrison's vision of building a team and culture around veterans and his past Nike connections on a short two- to three-year timeline is something I wrote about yesterday.

Both Durant and another veteran, Jimmy Butler, have contracts in the $50 million per year range, making it extremely difficult to match salaries with the current roster without including Irving or Davis in a deal.

3-First post-trade impressions of the Mavs and Lakers and the obvious holes they need to fill

The undersized Mavs, playing without Davis, P.J. Washington, and Derrick Lively II, dropped their third straight game, falling 118-116 to the Sixers. Davis will help clean up most of the defensive struggles that have made the Mavs the third-worst defense over the last 14 days, but this game—especially another late-game collapse—was yet another reminder that the team desperately needs another high-level ball-handler and playmaker. Spencer Dinwiddie and Dante Exum can’t and were neve meant to be full-time solutions. Irving, logged 42 minutes and had another great scoring, but low assist game, and is not the playmaker to create enough opportunities for players dependant on them like Klay Thompson, especially within the current offensive scheme. We'll see if the Mavericks make a surprise move for a third star or attempt to fill the playmaking gap with other available options. Coby White is one of the names floating around as a potential solution to their playmaking issues, but I think the Mavericks need a more proven, high-volume decision maker.

The Lakers, on the other hand, keep winning even without Davis. Their 122-97 blowout over their cross-town rivals, the Clippers, marked their ninth win in the last eleven games. Their defensive effort was impressive, with wing-heavy, long, and switchable lineups featuring James, Dorian Finney-Smith, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Rui Hachimura proving intriguing to watch. I believe a switch-heavy scheme, surrounding Dončić with long defenders across the board, is the best fit for him.

After Davis' departure, the Lakers now have an obvious and significant hole to fill in the middle. GM Rob Pelinka was very specific about the type of big he and Dončić discussed as the ideal complement—one with competitiveness, versatility, mobility, and a vertical lob threat. It almost sounded as if Pelinka, or maybe Dončić, was describing Derrick Lively II.

4-Intriguing Max Christie Mavs debutbout📊