The Dallas Mavericks shocked the NBA world by trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Many, including former stars, are still struggling to understand the decision.
During TNT's broadcast of the NBA All-Star Game, Jalen Rose shared his unfiltered thoughts on the Mavericks' decision to trade Doncic and their execution to do it.
Rose took exception to how the Mavericks have leaked information about Doncic before and after trading him.
"Normally, when you're about to get traded, there are negative things about your character publicly," Rose said. "I don't like that it happened with Luka before he got traded and after he's traded."
Another issue Rose has with the Mavericks trading Doncic is that they traded a player who can be a top talent on a championship team for a return headlined by Anthony Davis, who is limited to being the second-best on a title squad.
"Is he in the greatest shape? No," Rose said of Doncic. "Does he have some off-court things that he probably needs to improve as a 25-year-old? Absolutely. And I love Anthony Davis, but he was the second-best player on a championship team when Luka won the championship-by the way, he just led them to the finals last year, and he's been All-NBA five times-he's gonna be the best player on the championship team."
Rose thinks the Mavericks didn't want to give Doncic a super-max contract extension. If Dallas is unwilling to do that, Rose believes the ownership group should sell the team.
"It seems like they didn't want to pay Luka. So, if you don't want to pay Luka, just sell the team. That's how I feel about it," Rose explained. "Because if you ain't gonna pay somebody to accomplish what he's accomplished already, I don't know where the money gonna come from."
It remains to be seen how the trade will affect the Lakers and Mavericks. However, Los Angeles is ecstatic about the potential of adding a generational talent like Doncic, even after LeBron James retires. Dallas faces a limited window with Kyrie Irving and Davis but is confident in what the team can achieve.
