Mavericks' Luka Doncic trade to Lakers will have ripple effect

Luka Doncic being traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers will affect the NBA for a very long time.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles the ball past Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie (00) | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

It's been a little over two months since the Dallas Mavericks stunned the sports world by trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package headlined by Anthony Davis.

In the two months since, the Mavs have slowly disintegrated while the Lakers have climbed up the ladder in the Western Conference.

Bleacher Report named the trade as one of the biggest plot twists in the league this season.

READ MORE: WIll Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II play in Mavericks-Hawks?

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots the ball in the second half against the Indiana Pacers | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Doncic trade shook the NBA

"Usually, when Shams Charania announces a trade on social media, it is taken as a done deal. However, no one was sure the Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis trade was true. Some assumed he was hacked or this was a hoax. It was so wildly unbelievable that Charania had to post, "Yes, this is real." That is how wild of a plot twist the Doncic trade was," Bleacher Report writes.

"The trade immediately shook up the NBA contenders picture. The Dallas Mavericks were considered a team that could make the Finals once they got their star back from the calf strain he suffered on Christmas Day. The idea was that Kyrie Irving, paired with Anthony Davis, should lift the Mavs up. Since the trade, Dallas has suffered injury after injury, taking them out of Finals contention."

While the Mavs have struggled with injuries, they are currently on the right side of the playoff picture, sitting in ninth place in the Western Conference. They will look to secure that spot by playing well in the final few games before the postseason begins.

READ MORE: 76ers aiming to re-sign former Mavericks guard in offseason

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